Harmony and peace in ASEAN can only be achieved through moderation - Paul Low

The future peace and harmony in the ASEAN region can only be achieved through moderation, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Paul Low.

He said the moderation which he meant was in direct contrast with extremism.

"Extremism is synonymous with fanaticism, radicalism, zealotry, fundamentalism, dogmatism, bigotry, and militancy.

"The essence of these extreme views and ideology is that, ‘l know it all, I know what is right, and you are different and you don’t know anything'," he said during his speech at the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN People's Forum Malaysia 2015, here today.

Paul said these kinds of beliefs vilify and denigrate the humanity of others which in time draws deep lines of separation between “who we are” and “those other people”.

He also said those who are considered “part of us” are treated with preferential status whilst “those other people” are considered lesser persons, with lesser rights and even to the point where their lives can be taken from them arbitrarily.

"The discussion of moderation is not a discussion in philosophy or in the esoteric, but rather of our success or failure to create a culture of moderation which has already resulted in religious and racial conflicts flaring up.

"These conflicts have a high cost. It can be measured in lives lost, in the untold suffering of personal injuries and trauma, and of displaced persons both within and across national borders," he said.

Paul added that with ASEAN having a rough composition of Muslims and Buddhists representing 80 per cent of its population’s faith, moderation is a social imperative and a matter in which failure to achieve that right balance can be catastrophic.

"So moderation in faith and belief is not a compromise of faith, but the application of faith in the celebration of diversity and justice in accordance to the rule of law; policies which are based on compassion and equality for all," he said.