ISLAM NOT A THREAT, SAYS M'SIAN PM NAJIB

FROM JACKSON SAWATAN

BRUSSELS, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has
conveyed to the international community that Islam is not a threat and that
Islamophobia is often fuelled by extremists in all religions.

He said the international community could look towards Malaysia as a living
example of how people of different religions could co-exist in harmony.

Speaking at a media roundtable attended by international news organisations
based here, Najib said conflicts existed not between religions but between the
extremists and the moderates of all religions.

"Islam should not be a problem as long as there are moderates in all
religions," he said.

Islam was among the subjects raised during the roundtable and Najib was
asked about how Malaysia could address perceptions towards the religion among
the European community in the wake of the Europe-Malaysia free trade agreement
negotiations, to be launched here Tuesday.

Najib said it would be good if the European community could engage in
dialogues with moderate Islamic countries like Malaysia.

Saying that he did not condone extremism, Najib said the key to solving
Islamophobia was to find a long-term solution to the Palestinian issue.

He added that the fate of the Palestinian people, who were deprived of their
rights, "strikes a chord among the Muslim world."

"Some people feel that if there is no hope left, then what is there to
live for," he said, adding that once the Palestinian problems were resolved,
terrorism would subside.
-- BERNAMA