Khairy: Wasatiyyah approach can prevent extremism

PUTRAJAYA: An understanding of the Wasatiyyah approach by the younger generation can prevent them from getting involved in religious extremist groups, said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said the development of information technology had exposed society, especially the younger generation in Malaysia, to ideologies which contradict true Islamic values and this narrow-mindedness had to be curbed.
Giving the example of international extremist movements like the Islamic State (IS) which was actively recruiting youths from Muslim countries and should be stopped, Khairy said an understanding of Wasatiyyah could prevent them from getting trapped with such groups.
"It is important that we provide information that what the Islamic State is doing is wrong and their inclination towards war and violence is not consistent with true Islamic beliefs," he told reporters after launching a seminar on the Wasatiyyah approach at his ministry level, here today.
"Besides action by the security forces, we will also be working with the Wasatiyyah Institute to intensify the campaign for awareness of Wasatiyyah to ensure that the psychological warfare by the IS through the social media is curbed," he said.
He added that an understanding of the Wasatiyyah concept would also help cultivate positive thinking among youths in all their actions. – Bernama