orangutan
11-05-2005, 12:29 AM
KUALA LUMPUR — There is no danger of Malaysia becoming an extremist Islamic state, said its Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
.
He was responding to a recent public debate in Malaysia sparked by ethnic Chinese Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik, who complained national schools were placing too much importance on Islamic religious studies.
.
Mr Abdullah said: "Malaysia has always been a moderate Islamic country. There is no way whatever we do today will make us an extremist Islamic state. We reject any form of extremism and terrorism. We are a very moderate Islamic country."
.
He added that in Malaysia "we respect the non-Muslims. We share the government, we have power-sharing which doesn't happen in other places".
.
Mr Abdullah went out to defend Mr Lim, saying the minister was not opposed to Islamic studies in schools, but was only criticising excessive religious emphasis.
.
"No one likes excess. There should be moderation in whatever we do," said Mr Abdullah, adding that religious classes should be taught only at allocated times.
.
More than 60 per cent of Malaysia's 25 million people are Malay Muslims, while Chinese comprise about 25 per cent. Indians are the smallest minority. — Agencies No danger of it becoming an extremist state: PM
KUALA LUMPUR — There is no danger of Malaysia becoming an extremist Islamic state, said its Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
.
He was responding to a recent public debate in Malaysia sparked by ethnic Chinese Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik, who complained national schools were placing too much importance on Islamic religious studies.
.
Mr Abdullah said: "Malaysia has always been a moderate Islamic country. There is no way whatever we do today will make us an extremist Islamic state. We reject any form of extremism and terrorism. We are a very moderate Islamic country."
.
He added that in Malaysia "we respect the non-Muslims. We share the government, we have power-sharing which doesn't happen in other places".
.
Mr Abdullah went out to defend Mr Lim, saying the minister was not opposed to Islamic studies in schools, but was only criticising excessive religious emphasis.
.
"No one likes excess. There should be moderation in whatever we do," said Mr Abdullah, adding that religious classes should be taught only at allocated times.
.
More than 60 per cent of Malaysia's 25 million people are Malay Muslims, while Chinese comprise about 25 per cent. Indians are the smallest minority. — Agencies No danger of it becoming an extremist state: PM
KUALA LUMPUR — There is no danger of Malaysia becoming an extremist Islamic state, said its Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
.
He was responding to a recent public debate in Malaysia sparked by ethnic Chinese Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik, who complained national schools were placing too much importance on Islamic religious studies.
.
Mr Abdullah said: "Malaysia has always been a moderate Islamic country. There is no way whatever we do today will make us an extremist Islamic state. We reject any form of extremism and terrorism. We are a very moderate Islamic country."
.
He added that in Malaysia "we respect the non-Muslims. We share the government, we have power-sharing which doesn't happen in other places".
.
Mr Abdullah went out to defend Mr Lim, saying the minister was not opposed to Islamic studies in schools, but was only criticising excessive religious emphasis.
.
"No one likes excess. There should be moderation in whatever we do," said Mr Abdullah, adding that religious classes should be taught only at allocated times.
.
More than 60 per cent of Malaysia's 25 million people are Malay Muslims, while Chinese comprise about 25 per cent. Indians are the smallest minority. — Agencies
.
He was responding to a recent public debate in Malaysia sparked by ethnic Chinese Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik, who complained national schools were placing too much importance on Islamic religious studies.
.
Mr Abdullah said: "Malaysia has always been a moderate Islamic country. There is no way whatever we do today will make us an extremist Islamic state. We reject any form of extremism and terrorism. We are a very moderate Islamic country."
.
He added that in Malaysia "we respect the non-Muslims. We share the government, we have power-sharing which doesn't happen in other places".
.
Mr Abdullah went out to defend Mr Lim, saying the minister was not opposed to Islamic studies in schools, but was only criticising excessive religious emphasis.
.
"No one likes excess. There should be moderation in whatever we do," said Mr Abdullah, adding that religious classes should be taught only at allocated times.
.
More than 60 per cent of Malaysia's 25 million people are Malay Muslims, while Chinese comprise about 25 per cent. Indians are the smallest minority. — Agencies No danger of it becoming an extremist state: PM
KUALA LUMPUR — There is no danger of Malaysia becoming an extremist Islamic state, said its Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
.
He was responding to a recent public debate in Malaysia sparked by ethnic Chinese Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik, who complained national schools were placing too much importance on Islamic religious studies.
.
Mr Abdullah said: "Malaysia has always been a moderate Islamic country. There is no way whatever we do today will make us an extremist Islamic state. We reject any form of extremism and terrorism. We are a very moderate Islamic country."
.
He added that in Malaysia "we respect the non-Muslims. We share the government, we have power-sharing which doesn't happen in other places".
.
Mr Abdullah went out to defend Mr Lim, saying the minister was not opposed to Islamic studies in schools, but was only criticising excessive religious emphasis.
.
"No one likes excess. There should be moderation in whatever we do," said Mr Abdullah, adding that religious classes should be taught only at allocated times.
.
More than 60 per cent of Malaysia's 25 million people are Malay Muslims, while Chinese comprise about 25 per cent. Indians are the smallest minority. — Agencies No danger of it becoming an extremist state: PM
KUALA LUMPUR — There is no danger of Malaysia becoming an extremist Islamic state, said its Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
.
He was responding to a recent public debate in Malaysia sparked by ethnic Chinese Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik, who complained national schools were placing too much importance on Islamic religious studies.
.
Mr Abdullah said: "Malaysia has always been a moderate Islamic country. There is no way whatever we do today will make us an extremist Islamic state. We reject any form of extremism and terrorism. We are a very moderate Islamic country."
.
He added that in Malaysia "we respect the non-Muslims. We share the government, we have power-sharing which doesn't happen in other places".
.
Mr Abdullah went out to defend Mr Lim, saying the minister was not opposed to Islamic studies in schools, but was only criticising excessive religious emphasis.
.
"No one likes excess. There should be moderation in whatever we do," said Mr Abdullah, adding that religious classes should be taught only at allocated times.
.
More than 60 per cent of Malaysia's 25 million people are Malay Muslims, while Chinese comprise about 25 per cent. Indians are the smallest minority. — Agencies