PM NAJIB: MAKE MALAYSIA A WORLD MODEL FOR RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak urged Malaysians to
take a moderate approach in their outlook towards the country's multi-religious
setting and make Malaysia a world model for religious tolerance and racial
harmony.

"I urged Malaysians to join hands with me to make Malaysia a model of religious
tolerance and racial harmony for the rest of the world to see," he said at a
Wesak Day celebration and open house at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple here,
Friday.

Najib is the third prime minister to have visited the 115-year-old temple after
Tunku Abdul Rahman and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Present were his wife Rosmah Mansor, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, Transport
Minister Ong Tee Keat, Federal Territories
and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin,
representatives from other religions, foreign dignitaries, guests as well as
thousands of Buddhist devotees.

Najib added that Malaysians should avoid engaging in any kind of extremism which
he said could hurt the country and hamper its visions to become a high-income
nation.

"We are faced with many challenges today including the eradication of poverty as
well as transforming Malaysia into a high-income and developed nation within 10
years.

"And for us to face these challenges, we must recognise the basic principles of
democracy, which is, rights must be balanced with responsibility," he added.

Najib said Malaysians must also use their wisdoms to reach out and
understand the rights of all citizens in practising their religions in dignity and
without harassment.

The Prime Minister said Malaysians should used wisdoms and compassion to help
one another regardless of ethnicities and backgrounds.

"We have to accept that in order for all of us to be happy, sometimes we have to
sacrifice something for the common good.

"If our nation pursues the virtue of contentment, there is no reason why we
cannot achieve greater success as a nation," he added.
-- BERNAMA