CHANGE MISPERCEPTION OF NON-MUSLIMS TOWARDS ISLAM - PM

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called on
Muslims throughout the world to work together in changing the misperception of
the non-Muslim community towards Islam, which places importance on peace and
stability.

The Prime Minister said this was because there were still misconception among
the non-Muslim communities, including in the West, pertaining to Islam.

For example, he said that in a recent issue of the Time Magazine, there was
still a new terminology, 'Islam phobia'.

"The attitude of the non-Muslims towards Islam has not changed much. They still
have the perception that Islam is a threat to them.

"As such the Muslim community must assist in making the non-Muslim community
understand that Islam is a religion that places importance on peace and
stability," he said at a breaking of the fast with ambassadors and
representatives of the foreign missions at Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry), here
Wednesday night.

Najib hoped that the clarification and attitude shown by the Muslim
community could eliminate the misconception of the non-Muslims towards Islam.

In Malaysia, he said although the people comprised various races with differing
religious beliefs, they could still live in peace and harmony.

For this, he said the government would ensure that there would be no room for
any kind of extremism in the country whether in the form of racial or religious
extremism.

"They must be guarded accordingly. For example, if you cause damage to a church
or mosque, the punishment should be the same. We cannot have one set of
punishment which is reversed from the other. This is to ensure peace and harmony
in this country," he said.

Meanwhile, Najib paid tribute to the Foreign Ministry's Secretary-General Rastam
Mohd Isa for his contribution throughout his tenure in the civil service which
spanned 36 years.

The Foreign Ministry's Deputy Secretary-General I, Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman, will
succeed Rastam as the ministry's secretary-general, effective Friday.

Rastam, 59, had served as the ambassador to Pakistan, Bosnia Herzegovina,
Indonesia and as a permanent representative to the United Nations (UN).
-- BERNAMA



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