NAJIB EXUDES CALM & BALANCE IN OPINION PIECE ON RELIGION

By Yong Soo Heong

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- It is often rare to see The Wall Street
Journal devoting an entire page to views from Malaysia. But today was one of
those uncommon days -- a view by Malaysian Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak
and the other by Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Except for the coincidence of being on the same page, the similarity ends
there when one goes through their opinions with a fine tooth comb.

In his opinion piece entitled, "Finding Unity in Malaysia's Diversity",
Naji b exudes calm and balance in touching on religion, a rather touchy
subject,
especially in the aftermath of the recent vandalism on churches and other houses
of worship in the country.

He said Malaysia was certainly not the first country where a few individuals
had committed criminal acts under the pretence of supporting a particular
religion.

But he said that the true spirit of the nation had shone through where
Malaysians, across religions and races, had spoken with a unified voice in
condemning the despicable acts of a few.

"I am determined that the vandalism of places of worship and arson at the
Metro Tabernacle Church and the powerful response from everyday Malaysians can
be transformed into a moment from which we can learn," he wrote.

He added, "We will bring the perpetrators to justice. But this will also be
a time when we stand united as one people to unequivocally denounce violence and
reaffirm that we remain committed to the national drive we call 1Malaysia."

Such reassurance from Najib is the balm that is needed to soothe tensed
nerves in the aftermath of the work of a irresponsible few.

Najib also touched on various reforms that were being undertaken, like
liberalising the economy, improving healthcare and extending educational
opportunities to all Malaysians, and acknowledged that reforms had sometimes
been politically difficult.

"But they are important because the long-term health of Malaysia's society
and the economy can only be built on what unites rather than what divides us. We
will not waver from the pursuit of 1Malaysia," he wrote.

Such is the mark of a strong and responsible leader who knows that he has to
act fairly and responsibly to his people. After all, as Najib has often said, he
is prime minister to all Malaysians.

It is not an easy task but Najib gives much room for hope and optimism in
this country amidst the occasional tiny small mounds of racial polarisation here
and there among the narrow-minded.

Hope is such a powerful constituent in our everyday lives, especially with
the eight core values being promoted under 1Malaysia -- acceptance, integrity,
humility, perseverance, loyalty, culture of excellence, education and
meritocracy -- which over time will become useful foundations to build a
stronger Malaysia.

Already the number of people who believe that these values will be the
binding force for the nation is increasing because they hope for a better future
under Najib.

Hope was often employed by African-American civil rights leader and Nobel
Peace Prize winner, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, who once said: "If you lose hope,
somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to
be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still
have a dream."

In contrast, Anwar paints a bleak picture of Malaysia, and says that the
country has been getting international headlines for the wrong reasons.

In his opinion piece, "Muslims Have No Monopoly over Allah", he says that
the vision of Malaysia as a peaceful and stable location for investment, tourism
and migration is now in peril.

Malaysia's reputation as a nation at peace with its ethnic and religious
diversity is at stake, he asserts.

Anwar even goes to say that the recent arson attacks on houses of worship
exemplify "what's wrong with the way that Malaysia regards its non-Muslim
citizens."

The former deputy prime minister also rants about Malaysia having a stagnant
economy, declining educational standards and rising crime.

But we have to ask: Are we in the economic doldrums? Are our children in
local universities turning out to be duds? Are we even afraid to go out to town
at night to have dinner these days?

It is often said that a lie told often enough becomes the truth. We must
avoid people who are good in spinning yarns and untruths, and playing to the
gallery.

Fabricators must know this line -- you can fool some people all the time,
and all the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the
time.
-- BERNAMA