Be wary of extremists exploiting technology to recruit terrorists - Najib

Members of the Asia-Pacific Region must be wary of extremists, who have been adapting and exploiting technology in sophisticated ways for purposes of propaganda and recruiting terrorists, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The prime minister said the fight against extremism must be waged in the mind, articulated in speech, and amplified in cyberspace so that the battle zones of today do not become breeding grounds for misguided ideologies to be exported abroad.

"This region has for centuries been enriched by the assimilation and integration of different peoples, cultures, and traditions.

"We must therefore proactively propagate a narrative of moderation, tolerance, and peace. This is not just a counter-narrative to the one spread by the extremists. It is in fact our heritage," he said in his keynote address at the Asia Pacific Roundtable in the capital, Monday night.

Najib said this was why technology could be the ally, and to be skillfully used to uphold the peaceful, moderate traditions which were long adopted in the Asia Pacific countries.