Liberalism, pluralism will not lead youth down path of destruction. BN will..!
“The youth have to stay away from extreme beliefs which can bring harm to the country and (themselves). They also need to avoid being trapped in the liberal or pluralism belief.
“The best approach is to hold on to moderation,” he said in Malay during his speech before presenting awards in conjunction with National Youth Day 2014 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here.
The prime minister is telling off the youths of our nation to be moderate, avoid liberal and plural beliefs that he said, would eventually destroy the country. We would like to ask Najib, why didn't he tell this to his radical and extreme colleagues and subordinates in Umno?
Najib, before you decided to teach our youths about moderation, tell the radicals, racists and extremists in the Umno, Perkasa, Isma, Pekida, Muafakat, Jati first before you qualify yourself to teach others.
Our youths today are in the information age and they are growing and developing through these channels every second, every minute, every hour, everyday and every month. Many of our youths today had gain their maturity through these online channels, but we also must admit them there are also some minorities of youths strayed from their lives because of the information age due to their lacking in wisdom and understanding.
Second thing, by asking our youths to steer clear of liberalism and pluralistic beliefs is not a best option. Najib should not ask the youths to avoid but to face the facts and find the truth out there by using their wisdom and thinking before coming to their decisions.
Talk about liberalism, being a moderate in their religion or whatsoever subject, does not mean one should be labelled as liberal. Islam is a way of life, Buddhism is an Education, Christianity is a Teaching and Taoism emphasizes in Harmony, thus these religions are merely set to guide the people in going about with their daily lives, not just worshiping, praying, begging for something, hopping for the good to come, or asking for some fortunes.
These religions seeks to make our people live a better and harmonious way. So, how would you see such point of view? Do you say this is a liberal view of mine? No! These are facts. Religions are not mean to be worshiped or prayed in the first place. They are A Way of Life, Education, Teaching and a way to seek a Harmonious living on this earth of ours. In short they are Subjects of Guidance to All Beings.
About pluralism, Najib was again wrong to confuse our youths that pluralism is something like a poison. Pluralism is about engagement with diversity in order to seek understanding across lines of differences. Such efforts will have to come with commitments from all parties.
Apart from that, pluralism also encourages dialogues and encounter, give and take, criticism and self-criticism. It encourages both or multiple sides to speak up and listen to each other and this process reveals both common understanding to resolve differences and promote respect on each other.
Therefore, if an Islamic scholar decides to seek dialogue with a Buddhist cleric, it does not mean the Islamic scholar has become less a Muslim. Same goes to vice-versa and the other religions as well. If all religions come and sit together in a consultative council that meets every month, would that be good in instilling interfaith unity and harmony?
So, why is Najib trying to stop our young people from seeking the truth and building wisdom by asking more questions? Is asking questions tantamount to disobeying orders from the elders? Or is this government seeking an easiest way out by warning our people not to question but to obey this government or whatsoever religious edicts that comes by?
There is nothing about liberalism here in our nation. It is just the way we view our subjects on whether one should go the correct path or the extreme and deviant ways. liberalism is merely a label by political means for some parties wanting to remain longer in power.
Pluralism should be encourage. It will help built our country, our mindset, our understanding and maturity while only those who are narrow minded speaks of pluralism as such will threaten their powers and they desires to stay in power longer.
Therefore, Najib and his BN government should stop confusing our people by labelling these subjects as threats to our country.
