SHAH ALAM: Barisan Nasional, including Umno, rejects any form of extremism, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said, calling  political leaders to show the way by demonstrating moderation.

“Political leaders must set an example for the rakyat and reject any form of extremism,” the prime minister said before opening Gerakan’s 43rd National Delegates Conference at the Setia City Convention Centre in Setia Alam, Selangor, yesterday.

In his opening address, Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong expressed uneasiness over comments posted by Malaysians on social media and blogs.

“It saddens me that young Malaysians, the future of the country, can post racially-charged messages and comments,” Mah said.

Najib said as the Internet was not subject to censorship, it was easy for people to get carried away and get out of control when giving feedback on an issue.

“The solution is for political leaders to show the way by rejecting extremism. Barisan Nasional, and this includes Umno, rejects any form of extremism,” he said.

“We must educate Malaysians to not only be knowledgeable, but rational and think things through thoroughly.

“Malaysia wants to be a fully-matured democracy, and in order to achieve that, we must have a thinking public.

“It is easy to be an extremist, but in order to be a true leader, to be accepted by all races, we must strike a balance,” the prime minister said.

Najib said Malaysia’s appointment as a non-permanent member of the United Nations security council was due to the country being the epitome of a multi-racial nation.

“Why was Malaysia elected by other countries? Because we are the epitome of a nation which has succeeded in being multi-racial and multi-ethnic.

“We have shown this in a humble manner through our practices of moderation and political compromise among the different races in Malaysia.

“That is how Malaysia secured a position in the United Nations security council by striking the right balance and being moderate rather than extreme,” he said.

Najib paid tribute to Mah, whom he considered to be a risk-taker, who had put himself and Gerakan in the firing line by contesting the Teluk Intan by-election in May.

“It was tantamount to political suicide by Mah, pulling off what appeared to be mission impossible,” he said, referring to DAP’s 7,313 majority when it won the seat last year.

After six years, Barisan Nasional regained Teluk Intan when Mah defeated DAP’s Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud by a majority of 238 votes.

“I admire such an individual who dares to take risks and put himself in the firing line despite the odds stacked against Gerakan,” said Najib. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 20, 2014.