MALACCA, July 6 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has urged Muslims to place unity uppermost in the minds as hostility among them could lead the country into disarray.

He said Muslims in the country should learn from what had happened to Islamic countries in West Asia such as Libya, Syria, Iraq and Egypt that had been weakened by conflicts.

Raging civil wars in these countries have disrupted the society, resulting in the people living in fear and poverty, he said at the breaking of fast in Seri Bendahara here today.

Present was Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.

Muhyiddin said in Syria, nearly 11 million people lost their homes andproperties, six million became refugees, and hundreds of thousands, including women and children, lost their lives in a protracted civil war.

Muhyiddin said in Malaysia, Muslims were still living in harmony and benefited from economic growth and development due to political stability. 

However, seeds of discord among Muslims in the country due to differences of opinion over religious issues have surfaced, he said, adding that the dichotomy was taken advantage of by outsiders who were out to threaten the position of Islam in the country. 

“Of late, pressures are mounting from various quarters who have questioned the position of Islam as the official religion of the federation and the implementation of laws by the Syariah Court,” he said.

The deputy prime minister said hence, in conjunction with the month of Ramadan, apart from redoubling the acts of worship, Muslims should strengthen cooperation and solidarity to turn Malaysia into a model Islamic country. 

At the event, Muhyiddin presented ‘duit raya’ and raya clothing to 100 orphans from Rumah Anak Yatim Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj and Lembaga Pengurusan dan Kebajikan Anak Yatim Miskin Sungai Udang. — Bernama