INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD LOOK INTO ROOT CAUSES OF TERRORISM

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has called on the international
community to look into the root causes of terrorism, extremism and militancy and
come up with a plan to tackle these issues.

In a statement issued Tuesday following the demise of Al-Qaeda leader Osama
bin Laden, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said Malaysia believed that
terrorism could be dealt with effectively by addressing the conditions that
bred it.

"To do so, it is important to emphasise on education in order to overcome
ignorance, backwardness and illiteracy and also to provide the opportunity to
escape poverty.

"At the same time, it is also important to undertake efforts to resolve
conflicts and repression, which contribute to terrorism," he said.

Malaysia, he said, took note of the demise of Osama in an operation carried
out by United States forces in Abottabad, Pakistan on May 1.


He said Osama's death served as a lesson that violence was not the right
way to achieve one's aims.

"Osama's death might not be a death blow for the terrorist organisation,
Al-Qaeda. However, Osama's loss would affect Al-Qaeda's strength as he was the
inspiration and basis of the movement.

"It is our hope that the world would be a more peaceful, safer and just
place following the demise of Osama."

Anifah said Malaysia had always maintained that measures against
international terrorism should not infringe upon the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of states.

"Terrorism should also not be associated with any race, culture or religion
as this will only heighten the possibility of a world being polarised along
religious or ethnic lines, which in turn would propagate further unrest and
violence."


He said the Malaysian government was against all forms of extremist acts as
they were against Islamic principles, while killing of civilians was strictly
denounced in the Islamic faith.

"Although there are things that need to be righted in terms of justice, we
cannot fight for it by means of killing innocent civilians. Muslims should use
their intelligence, practise wasatiyyah (moderation) and reject violence," he
said.

Anifah said Malaysia would continue to monitor and take decisive action to
guard against the spread of religious extremism and fanaticism by promoting
tolerance among diverse communities and religions, and by emphasising moderation
and propagating the true teachings of Islam.