JOHOR BARU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has warned against the growing use of racial and religious rhetoric in politics, saying Malaysia's future depends on rejecting extremism and strengthening unity, compassion and mutual respect among its diverse communities.
He said Malaysia could only realise its economic potential if it remained a stable and united nation despite its diversity.
Anwar added the country was well-positioned to benefit from initiatives such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), artificial intelligence, digital transformation and the energy transition but stressed that development must be anchored on strong moral values.
"We are not detached from the roots of our lives. We live in religion, we live in culture," he said in his speech during a high tea session with Johor Christian leaders held at a hotel here on Saturday (July 4).
Anwar acknowledged that building an inclusive and compassionate society under the Madani agenda was an ongoing challenge, saying Malaysia continued to face an "onslaught of racism and religious bigotry".
"The whole narrative in this campaign in Johor and in this country is about racial supremacy. Some are gullible but it is our duty to disseminate the correct information," he said.
Without naming any political parties, Anwar criticised leaders who champion racial supremacy while enriching themselves at the expense of the people.
"The louder they talk about Malay supremacy, the wealthier they become. They speak about protecting the Malays but quietly squander public wealth – including wealth meant for poor Malays," he said, adding that he would continue to oppose such politics.
He also defended Malaysia's multicultural character, saying every community should be free to be proud of their language, culture and faith while respecting those of others.
"Why can't I be nice to the Malays and non-Malays? Why can't I show affection and love to Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans and Sabahans? I want them to show the same love and affection to me," he said.
On religious harmony, Anwar said the teachings of Islam recognised diversity and called on Malaysians to appreciate one another regardless of race or religion.
He said differences in race, culture and faith should be viewed as an opportunity for understanding rather than division, while urging religious leaders to work together to counter extremism and the erosion of moral values.
Anwar also said that the Federal government remained committed to safeguarding religious freedom and engaging fairly with all communities, although he acknowledged that improvements were still needed at state and local council levels.
He said leaders at every level of government must continue to engage all communities with fairness to ensure Malaysia remained peaceful, stable and progressive.
