You’re not alone, DPM tells Dr M

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has praised Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for never shying away from the truth.

“Telling the truth and standing up has been your trademark since you were a young doctor and an ordinary Umno member,’’ Muhyiddin said during his speech at a forum.

“Let me assure you, sir, that you are not alone,” he said.

Muhyiddin said Dr Mahathir had always stood up for what he believed in and saluted the former prime minister for having the guts to stand up to world superpowers in making a stand against war.

Muhyiddin said this in his keynote speech before officiating the “World Forum: Engaging the Young to Criminalise War and Energise Peace” at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday. The event was also attended by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, who is the founder and chairman of the Criminalise War Club.

Muhyiddin said extremist tendency among Malaysians must be quickly stopped before it poses a serious threat to the nation’s peace and stability. He said strong measures must be put in place to keep such threats in check and to address the root causes.

All for one: Dr Mahathir shaking hands with Muhyiddin at the forum.

 

Extremism and terrorism had become one of the greatest threats the world was facing, and Malaysia enacted the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) to deal with such threats.

Muhyiddin said a war had never benefited anyone, and it was sad and unfortunate that war, which was a form of mass murder, had not been regarded as a crime.

He had called on the younger generation to carry out their duty to the nation in spreading the message that war was a crime and that the world would be a better place for all if there was peace and goodwill.

“To me, the theme for the international forum is most appropriate. It is a clear and precise message that the young assume an important role in the shaping of our future, of how people can live in peace and harmony.

“In many war-torn countries or where violence has broken out, we have seen how children suffered the most. Look at the Middle East, Palestine, Syria, Yemen and Iraq. How many of the young ones have had their lives snatched away because of war.”

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said the Government was doing its best to encourage wholesome upbringing by teaching a wide range of subjects to develop young minds on various aspects of virtue, including understanding the different cultures, tolerance and good behaviour.