DON'T LET GLOBAL CHALLENGES OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS, SAYS PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the
responsibility of all global citizens was not to let global challenges outweigh
the benefits they brought.

Instead, the prime minister said they should be working together through the
global community to find globalised solutions.

"I am confident that, coming out of this forum, we are well on our way towards
finding some of these solutions," he said at the closing of the International
Forum on "The Creation of Global Citizens: Media Liberalisation and New
Political Realities", here, Tuesday.

The two-day forum which ended Tuesday, attended by 63 representatives of 22
political parties from 20 countries and several members of United Malays
National Organisation (Umno) overseas clubs, was held in conjunction with the
61st Umno General Assembly.

Najib said the rise of global citizenship had changed the world dramatically and
irrevocably.

"While the challenges these changes have brought are daunting, I cannot imagine
wanting to turn back now. Yes, this new world is confusing at times, and
sometimes as political leaders, we find comfort in thinking that we can turn
back the clock to a simpler past.

"However, when we do this, we forget all the tremendous benefits that
globalisation has brought to each one of us and to the constituents we
represent," he said.

The prime minister said this rise of global citizenship of course, had not been
without its challenges and unforeseen consequences.

He said the globalised trade and commerce had tied the global economies so
closely together that a crisis anywhere was now a crisis everywhere and "we
learned this the hard way with the recent global financial crisis".

He added that globalised travel had also meant globalised disease and
enviromental degradation.

"Through our travel and integration, we have spread illness and have greatly
harmed some of the world's once untouched paradises."

Najib also said that globalised information and communication technologies had
also their dark side.

"Once isolated, extremists from around the world have been able to form
communities fueled by hate and misinformation. Lies and hatred have never spread
more quickly or been more damaging," he said.

Despite these consequences, Najib strongly believed that globalisation and the
rise of global citizenship had been a net positive and they must not create new
walls to disrupt the ever-strengthening integration of the global community.

The answer to these new global challenges lies not in disrupting our
integration. Instead the answer lies in finding new and innovative global
solutions," he said.

Najib also addressed the twin challenges created by globalised information and
communications, including the rise of extremist communities and the rampant
spread of misinformation.

He said before the advent of Internet and sophisticated communication networks,
extremists were isolated and often marginalised but unfortunately with the rise
of the web and other communication technologies "these voices of isolated
extremists found each other and formed communities that have resulted in
despicable acts".

"I do not believe that the answer lies in reversing the forces of
globalisation. Instead what we need is a new and globalised solution. We need to
re-isolate extremists.

"To do this, I have called for a 'Global Movement of Moderates', an effort that
will amplify the voices of the silent majority while seeking to silence the
voices of the loud minority preaching division and hate," he said.

On the spread of misinformation and hatred through the new communication
channels, he reiterated Malaysia's steadfast support for press freedom and a
responsible press.

"Without a free media, the world would not be as integrated as it is today. The
answer does not lie in restricting freedom or rolling back globalisation in any
way - that would be counter productive and quite frankly, impossible.

"What we need is a new and globalised way of doing things. We need, as the title
of this forum suggests, greater media liberalisation and greater press freedom
around the world.

"Instead of seeking only to limit the voices that spread hatred, what we must do
is amplify and facilitate the voices from every corner of the world that spread
reason and speak responsibly. We must make the responsible voices louder that
the irresponsible ones."

Najib added that the rise of global citizenship had been a boon to all of the
global community where they were wealthier, smarter, more productive and more
aware.
-- BERNAMA