Corporate leaders need to walk the moderation talk

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian corporate leaders have a responsibility to speak up in support of fostering greater unity among the people, say two leaders who walk the talk.  

CIMB Group chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes are known to actively express their thoughts on issues affecting Malaysians.  

“It would be very sad if we have gotten to a point that leaders are afraid of championing unity.  

"I am also a Malaysian, and a leading figure in the community, so I have a responsibility to speak up,” said Nazir. 

 

Fernandes urged business leaders to look beyond simply developing their own corporations and relegating social values to the background.  

“Malaysian corporate figures won’t have much of a profit and loss statement to focus on if Malaysians all end up fighting each other,” he said.  

Nazir and Fernandes, who are staunch advocates of multiculturalism and moderation, believe that these values contribute to happier workplaces.  

“Malaysians, when they get along at the workplace across cultures and religions, are actually much better at travelling for business,” said Nazir.  

“The beauty of moderation is that we treat each other with respect instead of forcing our beliefs on each other,” said Fernandes.  

Star Media Group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai said the company advocates moderation, adding that he is happy to have partners who also believe in the cause.  

“We have to continuously emphasise our commonalities instead of our differences,” he said.