KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) — Malaysia continues to demonstrate its firm commitment to combating Islamophobia on the global stage through various channels, including financial contributions to initiatives under the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), said Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin.
He stated that the Malaysian government consistently contributes USD50,000 biennially to the UN Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) Voluntary Trust Fund to support programmes combating Islamophobia through education, dialogue, and youth engagement in the international arena.
“Since 2009, Malaysia’s total contributions have reached USD410,000. For the 2023-2024 period, the funds have enabled UNAOC to support three high-impact youth projects in Malawi, Indonesia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“These projects focus on fostering interfaith tolerance, countering negative stereotypes about Islam and empowering youth as community peace leaders,” he said in response to a question from Senator Datuk Ros Suryati Alang on Malaysia’s position against the rising tide of Islamophobia, in the Dewan Negara today.
According to him, the contributions had led to tangible outcomes, including the participation of more than 1,100 individuals, mostly youth, in education programmes, digital campaigns, and interfaith dialogues; the development of training materials benefiting over 10,000 people; and the fostering of cooperation between Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist communities following the completion of the projects.
He said Malaysia remains vocal in raising the issue of Islamophobia at international platforms such as the UN General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and OIC meetings, while also co-sponsoring several related resolutions.
He further said Malaysia has also worked with aligned nations such as Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkiye in joint statements condemning acts of Islamophobia and calling for international action grounded in universal human rights.
“Malaysia also stressed that Islamophobia is a new form of racism linked to xenophobia, negative profiling and stereotypes against Muslims,” he said.
He added that Malaysia is also actively supporting OIC initiatives such as the establishment of the OIC Islamophobia Observatory in Jeddah, the designation of March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, and the appointment of UN and OIC special envoys to address the issue.
He said the appointment of Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Aishah Bidin to the OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) for the 2025-2028 term underscores the Islamic world’s confidence in Malaysia’s credibility in championing human rights and opposing discrimination against Muslims.
“Through Wisma Putra, Malaysia is also optimising the role of the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) as a key institution in combating violent extremism in a holistic and targeted manner,” he said.
Mohamad also said that as ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia will promote the values of inclusivity, interfaith, and intercultural harmony through various initiatives, including the Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue held in Penang last November.
“This ongoing commitment demonstrates that Malaysia is not only serious about addressing Islamophobia beyond its borders but also strengthening its position as a leader in humanitarian diplomacy and a prominent voice of the Islamic world,” he added.
— BERNAMA
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