PM Calls On Jihad against Contemporary Global Challenges 
Bernama – 13/04/2006
KUALA LUMPUR - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday called on the people to go on jihad (striving in the way of God) against all the problems and crisis that are being faced by the country, and the world in general.

The Prime Minister said, this could be done if people from all races and religions shed their differences and focused on their "commons", to work together in addressing contemporary global challenges.

"The concept of jihad must be given a broader interpretation covering all aspects of life including the pursuit of knowledge, the mastery of science and technology, and economic activity," he said in his keynote address at a forum on 'Global Risks and Crisis: The Hadhari approach, its explanation and relevance to contemporary global challenges.'

The one-day forum was organised by the Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding (IKIM) here.

Abdullah said the question now was how to address those challenges, which covered all aspects of life from health to economic issues.

"Although to work on our commons is not easy, efforts must be made," he said.

After all, said Abdullah, global challenges were one of the many concerns commonly shared by people whether they were Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists or Jews.

The Prime Minister also said that people should not let their insecurity and anxiety within societies and between people and cultures globally to rule their judgment as those challenges and uncertainties and crises were expected to continue and worsening.

Instead, said Abdullah it was time for the people to act and build something out of their differences and strive for the better world.

He also reiterated that all communities should reject any extremism which had emphasised on differences and preached the politics of fear and hate.

Citing an example on the recent turmoil in many countries which was brought about by an irresponsible and insensitive act against Islam by some western newspapers, Abdullah said that was an example of how powerful religion could be as an imperative for people to act.

Abdullah said it also served as a lesson for the leaders and ordinary people alike and recognised it as an urgent need to address the state of relations between the Christian West and the Islamic world.

"It must be addressed because peace and stability of the world is at stake, as Christians and Muslims make up more than half of the world's population," he said.

He reiterated that in order to address the issue there should be a mutual respect for one another and accept each other as equals.

"The West should treat Islam the way it wants Islam to treat the West. Both sides should accept each other as equals. Respect, reciprocity and equality, these are the essential prerequisites for a harmonious relationship between the two civilisations," he said.
Source: Bernama | www.bernama.com