The Malaysian Insider
16 February 2015

Another group of Malaysians has penned an open letter to Datuk Seri Najib Razak calling for an end to extremism, this time by 58 former students of St John’s Institution in Kuala Lumpur, where the prime minister himself had studied.

The alumni of the renowned mission school from the class of 1975 urged the country’s leadership to take a strong position against racism, religious bigotry and extremism, and themselves pledged to “always walk on the path of moderation”.

“As patriotic citizens we will not allow any form of destructive extremism, divisiveness and racial or religious turmoil to be planted in our country.

“In this context too, we plead with our leadership, rulers and law-abiding citizens to stand up against extremism,” the 58 Johanians said in their open letter, which carried all their names.

The group expressed concerns that extremist views were increasingly widespread and said it was “not the way forward for Malaysia”.

“We believe that any form of extremist viewpoints as championed by those bent on racism and religious bigotry should be condemned,” they said.

The group also said that Malaysia would be disadvantaged politically, economically, financially and socially, if extremism was allowed unabated, and noted that Malaysia enjoyed a degree of harmony, progress and moderation that had given the country a “lead advantage” in the region.

Stressing that the way forward for Malaysia was moderation, they urged leaders from both sides of the political divide and from civil society to keep Malaysia a “nation of moderates”.

The letter by the St John’s alumni echoes another open letter to Najib written last year by a group of prominent retired Malay civil servants, now known as the G25.

The 25 eminent Malays took a stand for moderation and urged the government to allow rational dialogue on Islam and its position in the country and application in law and public policy. The group is now in the midst of seeking a meeting with Najib.

The 58 Johanians said the Federal Constitution should be upheld as a “sacred covenant” that cemented the bonds of nationhood between all Malaysians.

They also lauded the diversity of Malaysia’s multi-religious heritage, cultures and traditions, which they said were “tested, proven and vibrant” in preserving moderation.

“Our rich heritage has also proven (to be) the success factor throughout our history of nationhood, and we Johanians stand by it,” they said. – February 16, 2015.