IN A speech at the United Nations in September, our Prime Minister made a very explicit and plain statement that if governments could succeed in instituting a culture of tolerance and moderation among people at the domestic level, it would become easy for nations to cooperate in promoting tolerance and moderation among nationalities and cultures at the international level.
He said this at the informal summit on inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisational dialogue and cooperation.
Rightly so, our Prime Minister was relating from his personal experience and his lifelong engagement in Malaysian politics as well as his experiences while serving the Government.
He went on to warn that the idea of the inevitability of the clash of civilisation will be a self-fulfilling prophesy unless individuals and citizens that made up the world’s society stop from believing that it is going to happen.
Quite obviously, this is what the world’s society needs to do today. The recognition of the fact that in today’s predominant political structure, reforms, change and progress require initiative from within the inner circle of the society itself before they can be promoted and expanded beyond boundaries and sovereignties.
We see around us that conflicts will never end through repressive measures, ignoring the importance of nurturing tolerance and moderation.
As a result, a deadlock occurs and society is faced with turmoil and chaos, sometimes leading to armed conflicts and acts of terror.
Malaysia learns a very dreadful lesson in this regard during 1948-1960.
Communist insurgencies prior to independence were gaining ground and enjoying the support and sympathy of some within the society that was under repressive British colonial rule.
The communists were able to get support from the society that was enough to create mishaps and their struggle was, at some point, seen by some as legitimate to free Malaya then from the British rule.
The British initially took them as an ally to thwart the Japanese occupation.
After the Japanese surrendered, the insurgents were declared as enemies of the British Colony of Malaya and a state of emergency was proclaimed.
Unaware of the fact that the support and sympathy that the communists had were, in a way, due to their colonialist and repressive policies, the British finally decided that independence and self-rule was the only solution in resolving the imminent communist victory.
The British decision to negotiate the independence with local political leaders was a significant move and a milestone in the history of Malaysia.
It not only put on track the creation of a new independent nation but, more importantly, it frustrated the communists’ desire to rule the country.
Our country went on to achieve its long-awaited independence in 1957 amidst continuous threat from the communist insurgents.
By now it was obvious to the people that the true intention of the communists was not to liberate but to occupy the country and replace the British rule.
Self-government, independence and socio-economic reforms introduced by the newly formed coalition Government soon saw a decline in support for the communists from the people, especially the Malays.
Blessed with the able leadership of Tunku Abdul Rahman and many others during the early history of independence, our leaders focused on building the nation, making inroads into the crux of the problem that existed in the society, namely eradicating poverty and providing education.
The Chinese and the Indian immigrants were offered citizenship and provided with constitutional rights and were promised protection under the law.
They were brought into the mainstream of the dominant Malay society and were able to adjust and live in harmony, tolerance, moderation and cooperation.
The new development and measures introduced by the Government won the hearts of the communist sympathisers.
Realising that their ideological struggle was failing and support diminishing, the communists made a final major attempt to disrupt the peace and stability of the country by instigating hatred and animosity that caused the racial riots of May 1969.
Following the incident, the National Operations Council was established and a state of emergency declared.
It was during this crucial period in our history that the Government reviewed the structural defects that exposed the society to threats and made it vulnerable.
As a result, the New Economic Policy was formulated with the main agenda of eradicating poverty and restructuring the society. Integration, harmony and unity became the main theme.
The Rukunegara was introduced as a guide to the building of a harmonious multiracial and multi-religious society.
Being the secretariat member and secretary to the National Operations Council, our Prime Minister was directly involved with NOC’s deliberations, planning implementations and successes.
He is well versed with the restructuring of our society.
His hands-on-experience is now being shared with the rest of the world in his capacity as the leader of the Organisation of Islamic Conference and Non-Aligned Movement.
Indeed, this requires an insight into the problems that are plaguing the world’s society.
Our PM’s approach of Islam Hadhari is the product of his vast experience and mastery in understanding Islam and human nature.
Combined with wisdom and determination, he firmly believes that the world ought to share this approach in the hope of making it a better place for all to live in.
He remarked: “Muslims believe that if you have good intentions, God Almighty is always there to lend you a helping hand and assist you in your quest to do good. Differences in opinion must be accepted and tolerated. We must not cease to appreciate the differences that exist between peoples. We must proactively seek peace between cultures and religions by deliberately seeking non-violent adjustments, dialogue and negotiations.”
The Quran states that God created the universe and caused it to be inhabited by men and women and peoples and tribes so that they may know each other.
Perhaps, Malaysia’s experience in defeating communist terrorism; nurturing tolerance, moderation and harmonious living; and the approach of Islam Hadhari has, in it, lessons for the world to learn.