Malaysia says Muslims resigned to "sorry state," calls for revival

Jul 17, 2007, 4:35 GMT

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia on Tuesday called on Islamic nations to take a more active and contributing role in a globalised world and not remain resigned to their 'deprived and dejected' conditions.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that many Muslim countries viewed globalisation as a conspiracy to undermine Islam, adding that these countries were in a state of confusion and desperation.

'The reality today is that Islamic states are woefully unprepared to face the challenges of globalisation,' Abdullah said in an opening address at an Islamic conference in Kuala Lumpur.

'For many Muslims, they remain resigned to the sorry state; deprived and dejected.'

In his speech, which was read out by his deputy Najib Razak, Abdullah called on Muslim nations to unite, and said that violence between Muslims would 'choke our ability to progress and advance.'

'We must emphasize our common heritage, and put aside any sectarian differences which can lead to divison and conflict,' he said.

The premier also blamed lack of education and skills on the decline in productivity and the low economic standing of many Muslim nations.

Abdullah said that the gross domestic product (GDP) of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which is the largest Muslim political bloc in the world, only accounted for less than 5 per cent of the total world figure, while inter trade volume was only about 6 to 7 per cent of total global trade.

'How are we going to account for the fact that the Muslim countries - so blessed in natural resources - today remain largely poor and backward?

'How are we going to understand the fact that 1.6 billion Muslims - which account for 20 per cent of the global population - have failed to develop into a porportionately productive force for the benfit of humanity?' he asked Islamic scholars at the two-day conference.

He urged Islamic leaders to 'reclaim their legacy as active players in the global arena' and undertake the necessary steps to bring about a revival in the Muslim world.

Malaysia, which is stated as a secular nation in its constitution but has a large majority of Muslims, has said it practises moderate Islamic governance.