Thursday February 23, 2006
PM wants Australia to help ease Muslim-West tension
By JOSEPH RAJ
PERTH: Malaysia has urged Australia to “speak up and speak out” at the international level to help dispel the continued tension between the West and the Islamic world.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Australia was an open country, committed to defending human dignity and fostering peace and goodwill.
“A country which can establish racial harmony and religious tolerance at the domestic level will have good credentials to advocate change at the international level,” he said.
“Australia can help bring an end to the animosity and antagonisms of the past and present and contribute towards building bridges between peoples and cultures.”
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PROUD MOMENT: Abdullah being conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Technology by Dr Tan at Australia’s Curtin University of Technology in Perth yesterday. — Bernamapic |
He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Technology by the university – the highest form of recognition offered by Curtin – for his commitment to education and championing social justice, religious tolerance, environmental conservation and good governance.
Curtin chancellor Dr Eric Tan, who is Malaysian-born, presented the award to Abdullah.
The Prime Minister said certain voices advocating moderation and rationality were not given the prominence they deserved.
“The international media should give more prominence to them. Both in the West and the Islamic world, there remain an abundance of well wishers, bridge builders, communicators and facilitators who genuinely wish to come closer to the other side.
“I would like to invite the Australian leaders and people to add their voice to this noble cause, and the Australian media to do its part in this big mission,” he added.
Abdullah said he had earlier this month offered Malaysia as the venue for an annual dialogue between the West and the Islamic world.
“We must correct misconceptions and erase suspicions which exist between the West and the Islamic world. We need to foster respect for differences within our societies,” he said.
“Please be clear that Osama bin Laden does not speak for Islam.”
Abdullah said he was promoting good governance in Malaysia based on the principles of Islam Hadhari.
He also said the Government would match the RM6mil contribution by Curtin towards a fund for R&D, mainly in biotechnology, at the university’s campus in Miri.
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