Growing awareness to create peaceful world through moderation

KUALA LUMPUR: There are a growing recognition and awareness among the global communities to create a peaceful coexistence world through moderation.
Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMMF) executive chairman and chief executive officer Datuk Dr Nasharudin Mat Isa said it could be seen when a government failed to take care of their own people, the international community was bound to interfere, as seen in the Rohingya crisis.
"The global society cannot, and I say will no longer be able to tolerate another episode – be it racial or religious sectarian violence like what took place in Kosovo from 1998-1999, or the Rwandan genocide of 1994 when the Hutus massacred the minority Tutsis – with the world standing and watching in silence," he said.
He was speaking at the international symposium titled "Moderation in Multi-religious Societies: Towards Peace and Harmony" here, today.
The symposium was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Nasharudin said moderation was about acceptance, respect, mutual understanding and the celebration of rich dimensions of diversity.
He said history had shown, time and again, that the rejection of moderation or being extreme in any way or form could ignite conflict and discontentment, resulting in war and untold sufferings.
Moderation, on the other hand, he said could mitigate or prevent these from happening.
"It is imperative therefore that moderation be seen as the bedrock of international relations in this global world where peace, till today, remains ever illusive," he said.
Nasharudin noted that, in the turmoil of the present between faiths and races, the religious leaders of past and present had long promoted peaceful coexistence without compromising on their religious beliefs.
"ASEAN, in this very scenario, must be applauded for its ringing endorsement towards GMMF and the spirit of peaceful coexistence.
"With its steady concentration of Buddhists, Christians and Muslims, not to mention the coming regional battleground of the world's major powers, peace must be maintained in order to achieve the grand designs of prosperity that is our aspirations," he added. — Bernama