VIEW CURRENT CHALLENGES HONESTLY, MUSLIMS TOLD

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- The Muslim community must take a honest
look at the current challenges in the world which are worrying with the existing
financial and economic system said to have had overrun its course.

"It has to see how the economic and financial structure needs architects who
would be able to recover the world from the debris of destruction that have
taken place," the Regent of northern state of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said in
his closing speech at the 3rd World Islamic Economic Congress here Thursday.

They have to know how important it is for them to be united at this point in
their thinking, vision, actions and how critical it will be for them to have a
common stand in their intentions and desire to build a more stronger and
successful community, he said.

Raja Dr Nazrin Shah in his recent meetings with people from various walks of
life, has been stressing on the issue of "survival" of the community as a major
concern.

He said the community's attitude of being more attached and loyal to their
respective "clans" had distracted them from heading towards achieving a common
goal.

The current actions among community members certainly is not in line with
the spirit of awareness expressed during the Second World Islamic Economic
Congress 27 years ago, he said.

At the previous congress, it was concluded that Islam will be able to thrive
only amid a united, integrated and strong Muslim community leading in the way of
administration, resources and having economic strength, he said.

He also expressed hope that the Organising Committee and participants of the
latest congress will pay attention to reviving and remembering the spirit and
realisation that had been expressed previously.

Whatever that have been discussed and conclusions made cannot be achieved if
the Muslim community does not come together to protect its race and the dignity
of the country.

He also called on the community to hold on to the ties of brotherhood, and
to bury their differences for the better of the community.

On developments since Independence, he said the period from 1982 to 2007,
saw the beginning of various cracks and new trends and culture in the business
of power struggle.

"The culture of power for power because of power started creeping into the
community. Practices in conflict with ethics and morality became widespread, and
self interest became more important than the interest of the team, and the
interest of the team became more important than national interest," Raja Dr
Nazrin said.

The power struggles have continued since, and continue to continue. The
methods of winning and the reactions from losing have only added on to weaken
the community, he further said.

"The virtues of sacrifices, loyalty to the struggle, transparency and
sincerity seem to have no longer any value," he said.

The initial success seen in the first phase (following Independence) which
should have added on to more success in the second phase started to falter and
the community started to come apart and now they have grown even wider apart, he
said.
-- BERNAMA