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Wednesday 11 Nov 2015 - 19:52 Makkah mean time-29-1-1437
Bangi (IINA) – Malaysia's Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said an ASEAN Islamic community with moderate values and full of civility can serve as a good example to the world so that Islam will be seen in a more positive light, BERNAMA reported.
He said the concept of "wasatiyyah" (moderation) championed by Malaysia as the ASEAN chair for this year, was very close to the Southeast Asian community as it subscribed to moderate values and tolerance.
"These are the values that we should be promoting so that the world could view Islam more positively and make ASEAN a role model," Dr Asyraf told reporters after opening the ASEAN Community Conference under the theme of "Islamic Civilization in ASEAN Community: Challenges and Hopes" here on Wednesday.
He said ASEAN's potential could be immense as a community, despite its cultural diversity, possessed the same foundation that could make the ASEAN region stronger in the economic, socio-political and overall development contexts.
"I feel that with the values that are central to the lives of the people of Southeast Asia, we can take ASEAN to greater heights," Asyraf said.
However, he added, ASEAN, with the biggest Muslim population in the world, at 257 million, today also faced various challenges, especially extremist and radical elements which had infiltrated the community.
"This is the biggest challenge to be tackled. The most important thing is positive Islamic civilizational shift and knowledge that is true, and not understanding of Islam based on irrational sentiments," Asyraf said.
AB/IINA
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