Youth must condem violence, says DPM

KUALA LUMPUR, THURS:

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today called on the youth to condemn violence and any fragmentation of human kind.

He said youth should have the capacity to realise the futility and destructiveness of terrorism despite the difficult political circumstances or personal traumas that they faced.

At the same time, the younger generation should integrate with a multicultural society to respect religious diversity and believe in democracy and dialogue.

"One thing we all know and agree is that no religion or culture advocates violence to another. Let me also make it clear that no cause or political antecedent can justify acts of terrorism.

"Terrorism and violence cannot be justified under any circumstances," he said in his opening speech at the International Conference on Youth and Terrorism here.
His speech was delivered by Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

Also present were Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, his deputy Datuk Tan Lian Hoe and deputy Youth and Sports minister Wee Jeck Seng.

Najib said it was also important for the youth to address the misconceptions and prejudices which arise in the discourse of terrorism, apart from finding the roots to the scourge.

There was also a need to analyse factors why young men and women were easily brainwashed into becoming sacrifical lambs and becoming suicide bombers.

"We are urged on a daily basis by mass media which associate terrorism with religious fundamentalism. It creates a perception that religion promotes terrorists and suicide bombers.

"Our own acquaintances further create a picture where we only see our sorrow and despair, and are not able to see beyond it, what exactly is the root cause of terror," he added.

Najib suggested that to make the world a better place, youth must be guided by their conscience, where things which are immoral, regardless of the cause, must never be justified.

"Secondly, in the pursuit of knowledge, never forget wisdom. In this information age, the stress on acquiring knowlegde has been emphasised and rightly so. Nevertheless, knowledge without wisdom is like a powerful car without the capacity to steer," he said.

He said it was important for the youth to develop empathy and have an open mind in addressing terrorism, and to strive for unity in the multi-cultural society.

"Finally, we need courage. Let us not fool ourselves, most of the world would vehemently oppose those that try to live by such principles. Under such circumstances, living by the above would only be possible if we have both fortitude and resourcefulness," he added.

The two-day conference was attended by 224 participants from 24 countries.

Bernama