Political will needed to curb extremism, says Dayak Iban group

KUCHING: The nation’s leaders must have the political will to curb ex­­tremism and practise moderation, said Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) secretary-general Nicholas Mujah.

He said although it was commendable for civil society and the people to set the example in being moderate, it would not be enough if those running the country was not involved.

“Political will is needed to achieve moderation,” he said.

Campaigns calling for moderation, such as The Star’s, are useful when politicians are involved.

“They are the ones who should lead the way in moderation.

“Politi­cians should have no self-interest in governing the country,” he said.

He said this when responding to The Star’s “Brave Views, Bold Ideas” campaign, which encourages Malay­sians to stand up for moderation.

Under the campaign, the newspaper promises to keep discussions open, rational and moderate while showcasing liberal, moderate and balanced voices.

He added that from a Sarawakian point of view, moderation was what had been practised by the people in the state.

“Moderation means that there is no talking about a specific religion or race. In Sarawak, for example, people talk about themselves as Sarawakians,” he said.

Mujah added that he was very concerned about the rising extremism in peninsular Malaysia.

“This will have an impact on harmony and the nation as a whole.

“It will also give Malaysia a negative image if left unchecked,” he said.-TheStar