KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 ― Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today called for proactive efforts to provide alternative avenues for Muslims youths here to channel their energy, in a bid to put an end to the rise of religious extremism perpetrated by groups such as the outlawed Islamic State (IS).
He said the country has been “cornered” by the threat of extremism in the form of a militant ideology that abuses religion in condoning murder and destruction.
“Just look at the attempts by the militant group Islamic State in leading our youth down a destructive path. Young Malaysians make up a majority of those involved in this group,” he said in his policy speech at the start of the wing's general assembly.
“This religious extremism has to end now,” he added.
Khairy stressed that all the economic gains the country has enjoyed over the years would end up in vain if there is no effort by Muslims to nurture, maintain and defend the morals and values of Islam.
He said it would be better if those with the skills and capabilities reach out to young Muslims and help them increase their income, assist those who did not have educational opportunities or build houses for the homeless in poor Muslim countries, among many other ways.
“You are rewarded for building wells in rural areas. You sin by killing civilians (as) per the IS struggle,” he said.
The youth leader also zoomed in on the growing influence of “carefree and perverted lifestyles”, that could lead youths down an equally worrying route of “social extremism”.
He said education is the best remedy for this issue, with the support of a strengthened Shariah code.
“We implore the government to solve the conflict between civil and Syariah jurisdictions once and for all by taking into account the worries of the Muslims, the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation and the principle of the supremacy of the (Federal) Constitution,” he said.
