Understand factors for radicalisation to tackle issue - Anifah

Factors that cause or contribute towards the radicalisation of individuals or groups of people need to be understood for the world to better address violent extremism, said Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.

Speaking at the Geneva Conference on Preventing Violent Extremism - The Way Forward today, Anifah said that violent extremism that has and will affect all States could be caused by several factors including prolonged and grievous injustice, unequal access to resources and opportunities, gross violations of human rights, foreign occupation, and systematic discrimination.

"Preventing it has to be done with urgency, and it has to be comprehensive and sustained. International cooperation is required, and all countries need to negate violent ideologies, and highlight positive values," he said in his speech made available to Bernama.

Co-hosted by the Government of Switzerland and the United Nations, the conference from April 7-8 took place at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

Anifah also reiterated Malaysia's unwavering support and commitment towards preventing violent extremism and looked forward to engage constructively on the United Nations Secretary-General's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism at the upcoming Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy review to be held in June.

The Plan of Action was adopted by consensus on Feb 12 in which Member States stressed that it is essential to address the threat posed by violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism.

Anifah said that the Plan of Action provides a basis on how Member States could address this issue and recommends that countries develop their own National Action Plan to prevent violent extremism.

"Malaysia has moved forward in strengthening its legal framework in particular through our Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 and the Special Measures Against Terrorism in Foreign Countries Act 2015," he added.

Anifah said that on the regional and international level, Malaysia through the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT), has initiated the Digital Strategic Communications Division – premised on the soft approach in countering the online narrative put forth by the terrorists.

To promote cooperation at this level, Malaysia had hosted the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in 2015 and 2016, and the International Conference on Deradicalisation and Countering Violent Extremism.

Anifah also reiterated Malaysia's continuous commitment to promote moderation, and the Global Movement of Moderates – which calls for countries to censure and reject extremism and support moderation.

"Malaysia believes that the practice of moderation should be embraced globally. In April 2015, the leaders of ASEAN affirmed this approach, enshrined in the Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates," he added.

Anifah also said the absence of a clear definition of violent extremism at the international level, and broad definitions used at national levels, should not complicate international cooperation in addressing the issue.

"What is clear is that violent extremism has no place - anywhere. It cannot be associated with any country, race or religion. It cannot be justified in any way or form.

"What is also clear is for us to continue to take decisive and preventive actions - at the national, regional and international level," he said.