Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today attributed Malaysia's rise as a modern and progressive Islamic nation to the use of the 'Wasatiyyah' (moderation and balance) approach as the basis of the national administration.

He said the practice had put paid to the cynical views of various quarters which found it hard to believe that a cosmopolitan country could successfully build a nation state.

"Surely many are asking what kind of philosophy, concept, principle, stand or criteria we are putting into practice to enable Malaysia to be where it is today.

"It is none other than the Wasatiyyah approach advocated by Islam through the numerous passages and propositions often repeated in the Quran," he said in his address at the national-level Maal Hijrah assembly at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), here.

Najib said the Wasatiyyah approach was a principle that could form the basis for any initiative or action in all fields.

He said the Wasatiyyah formula practised by the government encompassed core elements such as moderation and balance and gave importance to excellence, such that it brought comprehensive development to the people based on the teachings of Islam.

This clearly showed that the Wasatiyyah approach rejected the elements of obsession, fanaticism and extremism which caused the people to be rigid and fail to appreciate anything done for the good of all, he said.

The prime minister said the practice of Islam in Malaysia was universal in nature by way of understanding the Islamic laws and without going to the extent of mitigating the religion to be liberal.

He said this was what all Muslims, particularly those in Malaysia, should understand and digest.

Hence, he said, the government rejected any form of militant activity which clearly did not reflect the sanctity of Islam.

He said a lack of knowledge about Islam would drive people to commit acts that were contrary to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad based on the Quran and Sunnah.

"In this connection, we often hear of people arguing about the term 'jihad' without an in-depth understanding of it, often misinterpreting the meaning.

"The struggles and sacrifices advocated by Islam are not those which are often taking place, including the acts of suicide bombers which is clearly forbidden by the religion," he said.

Referring to this year's Maal Hijrah celebration, which carries the theme of 'Perpaduan Nadi Transformasi Negara' (Unity, the Pulse of National Transformation), Najib invited Muslims to emulate the hijrah of Prophet Muhammad in uniting and befriending the Muhajirin and Ansar communities as a guide to
managing the diversity of communities in this country.

"In other words, in contemporary Malaysia, unity and stability are of utmost importance; the ethnic identities of every community must be respected and regarded as assets to be proud of," he said.

At the event, Syariah legal advisor in the Attorney-General's Chambers, Tan Sri Sheikh Ghazali Abdul Rahman, was named 'Tokoh Maal Hijrah 1436H/2014M'.

Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa were also present at the event.