Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysians not to allow a vocal minority spreading hatred and extremism to overshadow the silent majority who value peace, harmony and national stability.
Speaking at the Madani Harmony Forum organised by the Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Council in conjunction with Wesak Day, Anwar said certain groups were deliberately exploiting racial and religious sentiments to create tension within society.
“Right now, those who are loud, angry, agitating people, organising gatherings, spreading hatred, spreading slander and intimidating others are a minority group,” he said.
“I believe the majority of Malaysians, whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan and others, want a peaceful, stable and successful country.”
Majority must defend harmony and compassion
Anwar said the time had come for the peace-loving majority to speak up in defence of humanity, compassion and unity across different races and religions.
“Enough of hate politics and division. It is time for Malaysians to determine the direction of this country with conscience, compassion, and mutual respect,” he said.
He stressed that national harmony could only be preserved if Malaysians continued to respect one another despite differences in culture, race and faith.
The prime minister also reminded the public that unity and understanding were essential foundations in ensuring long-term stability and prosperity for the country.
Malaysia Madani goes beyond economic growth
Anwar said the Malaysia Madani concept was not limited to economic progress, digital transformation or artificial intelligence development alone.
According to him, the framework also emphasises values, ethics and morality rooted in religious teachings and human compassion.
“We want development, innovation and technology, but at the same time, we must remain humane with values of compassion, respect and love,” he said.
He added that religious teachings, including in Islam, consistently emphasise mercy and kindness, although public discourse today often focuses more on hostility and hatred.
“In Islam, for example, we are taught about mercy and love. But unfortunately, today, what is often highlighted is hatred and hostility,” he said.
Government to continue supporting interfaith programmes
Anwar assured that the government would continue supporting Wesak Day celebrations as well as interfaith harmony programmes aimed at strengthening national unity.
He said such initiatives played an important role in fostering mutual respect and deeper understanding among Malaysians from different religious and cultural backgrounds.
