Face liberalism, secularism with dialogues - Muhyiddin

UMNO deputy president, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants the party to seek a new approach in addressing challenges and threats towards Islam mainly on issues regarding freedom and human rights.

He said, UMNO members should explore knowledge and skills in finding solutions to the crisis currently faced by the Muslims.

"I think today’s culture of making police reports and holding demos in facing the challenges towards the faith and Islamic law is not the right answer to solve the crisis faced by us.

"We need to increase discussions, publications and discourse on freedom and human rights in accordance to Islamic perspectives and also how Islam faces challenges in secularism," said Muhyiddin in his opening speech for UMNO Youth, Wanita and Puteri conference at Putra World Trade Center (PWTC), Tuesday night.

Muhyiddin also said UMNO needs to address the issue of liberalism and secularism with a 'firm faith and a sharp mind, not clouded by a rigid emotion'.

In his speech, he drew the crowds' attention to the concern and fears of Muslims against the effects of liberalism and secularism on the faith of Muslims.

Muhyiddin also explained that if liberalism and secularism is not contained, the believe and practice of Muslims would collapse.

According to him, these are new challenges for UMNO who had only faced the issue from PAS in trying to proof 'who is more Islam'.

Muhyiddin believe that UMNO, as a Malay-Muslim party will continue to uphold Islam as the basis of its struggle and believe in a simplistic manner or ‘wasatiyyah’.

He also said that with a simplistic approach, UMNO must resolutely oppose extremism and militanism that is now affecting the youths.