DPM: Don't be duped by islamophobia of the west

MALACCA: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today reminded the people not to get trapped by the islamophobia as drawn up by the west to the point the term made some to be contemptuous of their own race and religion.
The deputy prime minister said the west wanted their mould of islamophobia to be accepted and embedded in the minds of muslims to the point it could make them self-destruct.
"They (the west) want us to join their 'islamophobia' bandwagon, to paint a a picture that we muslims give birth to violence ... This impression is given by them.
"In the end, we swallow it and and it is established in our minds to mock our own race, our religion," he said when opening the 17th Malay World Islamic World (DMDI) convention in Bandar Hilir here last night.
Present were Malacca yang DiPertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron and DMDI president Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam and more than 1,000 delegates from 14 DMDI member nations.
The two-day convention themed "DMDI is catalyst to unity and islamic wellbeing" is due to highlight numerous achievements and also includes workshops and tabling of working papers.
Ahmad Zahid said for Malays and Islam to be the most progressive in the world, this had to be rooted on reality.
In addition, he said the future of the Y and Z generations must be relevantly planned to become supreme people, not only by being merely nostalgic on past tales.
"DMDI needs to implement these elements to uplift the Malays and Islam because with this combination we can endeavour to become renowned people," he said.
He said in the effort to uphold Islam and the Malay race, other religions and races should not be shunted aside but must be respected to protect national harmony.
Ahmad said the Malays must change their way of liking to ridicule their own race and language if they wanted to continue to progress.
"We want the Malay language to become the lingua franca at the United Nations (UN), we must boost Bahasa Melayu as a tool of communication at the international level.
"A malay speaking in English at the UN with a Malay accent is brushed off as not great ... Don't insult your own race, change your attitude if you want to be famous," he said.
He said other races would not appreciate the Malays if they themselves did not value what they had. — Bernama