"WASATIYAH" CONCEPT TO PROPEL 1MALAYSIA 1UMMAH - NAJIB

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
today called on Muslims to internalise and practise the concept of "Wasatiyah"
which he said would create a progressive ummah.

He said that the Wasatiyah concept -- which means to be moderate, to be in
the middle and to be in a state of balance -- would create an ummah whose
strength is centred based on their faith to Allah, without neglecting the
welfare of others, irrespective of their race and religion, in the context of
Malaysia's plural society.

Najib said that in realising the 1Malaysia vision and in the context of
charting the direction of Muslims in the country, a comprehensive and integrated
concept should be formulated in line with the call of Islam and in order to deal
with the various issues and problems taking place at the moment.

He said the concept of Wasatiyah was a noble concept and encouraged in Islam
as any action which was more than what was necessary was regarded as excessive,
while one that was less than what was necessary was considered as negligence.

"Muslims should not be rigid and extreme, but at the same time they should
not be too free to do anything without restrictions," he said when opening a
gathering of Ulama and Umara as well as launching the 1Malaysia vision and
1Ummah logo for religious agencies nationwide here.

Najib also quoted Verse 143 of Surah Al Baqarah, which mentions Muslims as
"the community of the middle way", and said that Muslims should be moderate in
the way they carried themselves.

"This concept of Wasatiyah emphasises the teaching of Islam which is
moderate, just and balanced.

"It focuses on enhancing the quality of lives of ummah in terms of
knowledge, human capital development, economic and financial system, defence,
unity and so on," he said.

Najib said that in line with the "Performance Now" slogan, the Wasatiyah
concept would be able to realise a comprehensive teaching of Islam in line with
the vision to make Malaysia a model Islamic nation.

-- BERNAMA



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