15/05/2005
KUALA KANGSAR, May 14 (Bernama) -- Throwing the Muslims holy book -- "Al-Quran" -- into the toilet by US soldiers in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba is an act to humiliate the Muslims, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Saturday night. Describing the act as very saddening, the prime minister said it had aroused anger in many Islamic nations. "We are saddened by the incident as it humiliated Muslims. What's our response, what are we going to do about it," he said when launching the state-level Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam) here. Abdullah said such humiliating incidents happened because of weaknesses among Muslims. "If we are not weak, (if we are) progressive and strong, nobody can disturb us," he said. Abdullah said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had issued a statement that the incident would be investigated and if it was found to be true, action would be taken against those responsible. According to foreign wire agencies reports, the US soldiers had placed the Al-Quran in the toilet and this triggered a riot in which seven people were killed in Afghanistan. Abdullah said: "If Muslims of today do not want to be a backward race, the threat is not terrorism but illiteracy and poverty." He said Islamic nations must have the strength and vigour to strive to improve on their progress to an excellent stage. "We want to become a progressive race who do not bow to anyone like the approach taken through Islam Hadhari. It is an approach to scale greater heights," he said. Abdullah said Islam Hadhari was an approach which the government felt could bring about progress if it was implemented seriously. He said Malaysia did not want to be like certain so-called independent countries but were not at liberty to do anything and were constantly under suppression by parties with vested interests. Abdullah returned to Kuala Lumpur tonight after wrapping-up a one-day working visit to Perak which started with a Clients Day programme at Padang Astaka in Sitiawan.
SOURCE: Bernama.com.my
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