Ramadan of 2017 is of special significance for Malaysia for moderate Malaysians should launch a virtuous movement of goodwill and solidarity among Malaysians regardless of race, religion or politics to build a nation of peace, tolerance, understanding and mutual respect to defeat those who want Malaysia to be trapped in a vicious circle of hate, enmity, intolerance, mutual distrust and extremism.

Pakatan Harapan leaders from PKR, Amanah, Pribumi Bersatu and DAP are visiting Pasar Ramadan in various parts of Johore and Malaysia to spread the message of peace, tolerance, understanding and mutual respect among the citizenry, regardless of race, religion or politics, for this is the best way to counter the evil designs of irresponsible elements who want Malaysians to be divided or torn asunder by hate, enmity, intolerance and mutual distrust, solely based on factors of race or religion.

It is a sad commentary on our failure in nation-building in the past six decades to lay a strong and powerful foundation for a united, harmonious, tolerant multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation that on the 60th anniversary of our National Day celebrations this year, there are forces in Malaysia preaching hate, enmity, intolerance and mutual distrust trying to divide Malaysians based on race or religion.

Patriotic and moderate Malaysians must unite to save the country from such irresponsible forces of disunity, division and disunity.

Malaysia is not a nation of one race or one religion, but a nation of diverse races, religions and cultures.

Malaysia as “Instant Asia” should not just be a draw for tourists to come to Malaysia from all over the world, as the racial, linguistic, religious and cultural diversity of Malaysia is a national asset and not a liability for Malaysian nation-building.

Malaysia can become a world-class nation if we can leverage on the best qualities and values of the diverse races, religions, languages and cultures which meet in confluence Malaysia, but Malaysia is doomed as a nation if we allow the voices of extremism and intolerance full and free rein in our national life.

My visits to the Ramadan bazaars since the beginning of the Ramadan have reinforced my conviction that regardless of race, religion or politics, Malaysians on the ground want and cherish peace, tolerance, understanding and mutual respect.

Malaysians regardless of race, religion or politics must learn from the lessons of failed states which have allowed the voices of hate, intolerance and extremism to prevail over the voices of reason, love, compassion, tolerance, goodwill, solidarity and mutual respect, and gone down the slippery slope of national division and destruction.

The greatest challenge of Malaysia in the coming years is whether we can build on the goodwill, solidarity, tolerance and mutual understanding and respect of the diverse races, religions and cultures or allow the voices of intolerance, hatred and extremism to destroy the bonds of reason, love, compassion and unity we have built in the past and replace them with hate, mistrust, intolerance and extremism which could only end with greater national discord and division.

(Media Conference Statement on visit to Pasar Ramadan Johor Baru on Thursday, 1st June 2017 at 6 pm)