Respect other faiths, Malaysia’s PM tells Muslims

Malaysia's leader urged the country's majority Muslims to respect other religions, an apparent effort to placate minorities and diffuse racial tensions ahead of snap general elections.

Malaysia’s leader urged the country’s majority Muslims on Wednesday to respect other religions, an apparent effort to placate minorities and diffuse racial tensions ahead of snap general elections.

“If we want our religion to be respected and understood, let us show exemplary behaviour by respecting the followers of other religions and their needs,” Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a speech to the ruling United Malays National Organisation party.

“Violence by one side will breed violence from the other,” said Abdullah, who led his party to a landslide election victory in 2004.

Story continues below this ad

New elections are not due until 2009 but Abdullah is expected to seek a fresh mandate in early 2008.

The ruling National Front coalition, in which UMNO is the dominant player, is expected to retain power it has held for 52 years. But it is unlikely to repeat its last success because of growing anger among the Indian and Chinese minorities over what they see as the erosion of their rights.

Many ordinary Malaysians, including Malays, are also fed up of escalating crime, corruption and inflation, which have exacerbated racial tensions.

The highly conciliatory speech was notable for its context, it was delivered at the annual general assembly of UMNO, when Malay rights and dominance are routinely asserted and reinforced.