KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians must reject divisive narratives driven by a vocal minority and put an end to politics rooted in hatred and discord, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister urged the public to lead with conscience instead of allowing fear, racial rhetoric and hatred to dominate public discourse.
“I see this as an opportunity, in conjunction with the Harmoni Madani event, to call on the majority of Malaysians to speak from their conscience. Enough with politics built on hatred and discord,” he said in his keynote address at the National Wesak Day Conference 2026.
Anwar said a small but vocal group were spreading fear and division as if they represented the views of the wider public.
“This is like a tyranny of the minority. A small group is forcing the larger majority into submission.
“Most Malaysians – Malays, Chinese, Indians and others – are good people. The majority are decent people.
“But today, the loudest voices often belong to those who are angry, divisive and provocative. They create hostility and stir emotions. That does not reflect who Malaysians truly are.”
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over rhetoric exploiting race and religion, saying such narratives were often fuelled by ignorance and manipulated emotions rather than genuine understanding.
“I am a Muslim and I strive to be a good Muslim. But I struggle to understand where hatred fits into my religion.
“We speak of peace, compassion and mercy, but there is a gap between what we preach and what we practise.”
Anwar said the Madani concept was not introducing a new national direction but continuing the aspirations set at the country’s founding, centred on values, ethics and compassion.
“While the world speaks about development, digitalisation, energy transition and artificial intelligence, we must remain firm in our beliefs, values and ethics. This is what makes Malaysia unique.”
He also gave assurance that the government would continue supporting interfaith harmony programmes, including Wesak Day celebrations, to strengthen national unity.
The government had previously approved a RM2.5mil allocation to support Wesak-related grassroots activities organised by Buddhist associations nationwide.
