SERIOUS WEST-MUSLIM WORLD DIVIDE DUE TO INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION - CROWN PRINCE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- The serious divide between the West and the
Muslim world is due to their failure to communicate effectively, said the Crown
Prince of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah.

He said the Muslim world was more at fault here, for its lines of
communication with the West were limited and the language it used frequently
grated with the West.

"The West is much better resourced and skilled in the art of communication.
It dominates the global media and it reaches out to the Muslim world in the
latter's own language and idiom more widely and effectively."

Raja Nazrin said this in a speech entitled "Bridging the Muslim and
Western Worlds for Peace and Development" at the World Muslim Leadership Forum
in Somerset House, Strand, London.

The text of his speech was faxed to Bernama here Thursday.


Raja Nazrin said the Muslim world by comparison had few channels in the
English or any of the other European languages, while the western media
were often quicker with the news, the analyses and commentaries and were able to
establish their narratives as the "correct" narratives.

"The electronic and print media in the West, however, have done much more
harm in spreading negative images and perspectives of the other, if only because
of its greater potency and wider reach.

"The false and sweeping linkage of Islam and Muslims with terrorism, the
potrayal of Islam and Muslims (rather than traditional culture and local
conditions) as backward, undemocratic, intolerant, wanting in respect for human
rights and discriminatory of women, owes much to some of the western media."

He said organised dialogues between the West and the Muslim world fared
better, but were often similarly skewed as well.

"The agenda for discussion on Muslim-West relations is frequently focused on
what is wrong with the Muslim world rather than on what needs to be made right
on both sides," he added.

Raja Nazrin said both sides had plenty to do to correct the picture and
help narrow the gap as the Muslim world had more ground to cover.

"Besides drastically improving the quality of its media and its outreach
into the Western world, it has to make a much better job of explaining and
clarifying the perceived link between Islam and terrorism, the incidence of
militancy and terrorism in the Muslim world compared to elsewhere."

He said the media in the West and Muslim world, as well as intellectuals
and other important stakeholders could also engage each other and work together
to correct misconceptions and stereotypes on both sides and promote mutual
understanding and regard.

Raja Nazrin said relations between the West and the Muslim world also
would depend very much on whether United States President Barrack Obama was
able to overcome the challenges and stay the course.

"America's imperial overstretch and the foreign policy and security
disasters that are looming in the region have persuaded President Obama to
boldly seek a 'new beginning' in US relations with the Muslim world.


"It will be tragic both for the West and Muslim world if the 'new
beginning' he courageously embarked upon comes to grief," he said.

Raja Nazrin said the Muslim world was already cooperating fully with the US
and the West in the campaign against terrorism but some countries like Pakistan
faced enormous constraints.

"Elsewhere, in countries like my own, our commitment has always been clear
and unwavering and it predates 9/11. Terrorism, including what we call
international terrorism that is directed at the US and its allies, is our common
enemy.

He said the Muslim world must tend to at least three bridges, which were the
bridge between Muslims and their government, bridge between Muslim countries
themselves and bridge between the Muslim world and the West.

"All three bridges are important and they reinforce each other, so each
bridge needs to be strong. But the most critical bridge is the first bridge.
Until the first bridge is strong and healthy, the other two will not be sturdy."

He said ideally, Muslim countries should tend to the first bridge and
make
themselves internally cohesive and resilient and peaceful and prosperous.

"Only then will they have the capacity to tend to the second and third
bridges. In reality, however, this luxury does not exist. Countries need to tend
to all three bridges simultaneously.

"The Muslim world can manage its relations with the West and the rest of the
international community better if the second bridge too is sturdy.
Unfortunately, this bridge needs tending in some regions.

"Cooperation is weak and solidarity poor in many cases. More seriously, the
Muslim world itself is divided by rivalry and even conflicts among some
neighbours," he added.

Raja Nazrin said bridging the gulf between the Muslim world and the West
entailed addressing the primary factors that divided the two sides.

"I have identified the problem as essentially political and security in
nature and not religious, cultural or economic although all these condition the
political and security problems.

"I believe that to close the political and security divide, the Muslim world
and the West need to focus on at least two major areas.

"First, they need to address the specific political and security issues,
namely international terrorism, the Palestinian problem, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Second, they need to engage in dialogue and more effective communication," he
said.

-- BERNAMA