Moderation is the “value of choice” in Asean but its members must fight extremism together, said former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
“We in Asean are not immune to the scourge of terrorism and extremism, as regional incidents have proven, but we cannot abdicate our future to it,” he said.
“We must fight for the values that we as a society hold sacred.”
Abdullah was making his closing remarks at the Asean Young Leaders Summit yesterday.
He said the attacks in Paris must never be allowed to happen in Asean or anywhere else.
“We must face and defeat terrorism. It must be exposed for the pure evil it is,” he said.
“Never allow terrorism to dictate our core values and our world view.
“If that were to happen, then the terrorists will have won.”
“Asean has the largest Muslim communities in the world and it is our responsibility to show the way through example and commitment,” Abdullah said.
“Our fight will be long and must be enduring; international cooperation therefore must be the norm rather than the exception.”
He also reminded the nations that “each and every youth is important”, and the “evils of the world” must never be allowed to turn their innocence.(The Star)
Link: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/11/21/Asean-must-defeat-terrorism-Pak-Lah-We-must-fight-for-values-that-we-as-a-society-hold-sacred/
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