By Hamdy Al Husseini, IOL Correspondent
CAIRO, March 11, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Calling on Muslims to instate justice and to focus on education as important means for assuming their place among developed nations, former Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamed, shed light on the secret behind turning his country into one of the most successful models in Southeast Asia in the span of two decades.
It was not a miracle in Malaysia. We just spring up into force what is mentioned in the Noble Qur’an, Mahathir told a huge audience at Cairo University Thursday, March 10.
Speaking on a lecture organized by the Malaysian Studies Program of the Asian Studies Center at the Faculty of Economy and Political Sciences, Mahathir highlighted the need for Muslims to avoid granting chances to their enemies to further tarnish their image.
The audience, including researchers and intellectuals, listened to elaboration from the man who commands deep respect in the Muslim world for his acumen and thoughts on how to ensure welfare of the nation.
Malaysia’s revolution, he said, was inspired by Iqra (read) – which is the first verse sent by Allah in the Muslim Noble Book.
Although he stepped down as Malaysia’s prime minister two years ago, the architect of enormous economic reform still keeps a high-profile both inside his country and through the Arab and Muslim worlds as well.
During the lecture, entitled “Political Thought of Mahathir Mohamed”, the big audience were more attentive to listen to his advices on Islamic renaissance -- the same advice that has made of Malaysia one of the strongest economies in Asia.
The well-attended lecture was a continuation of similar ones given by the former Malaysian prime minister on other occasions and in another countries.
More attention has been paid to education, making it feasible to all Malaysians, and that allowed Malaysians to realize the values of work and production and others, the former Malaysian premier said.
He further saw education as Malaysians’ first step towards an overall development that depended on different sectors including agriculture, industry and trade for progress.
Now, Malaysia stands out as a very successful country, whose Muslims make up 60% of the overall population, heading towards the status of developed nation with huge buildings, beautiful cities and a fast track economy that is doing well despite recent shattering events.
The active 80-year-old leader was one of the speakers at the international leadership summit Leaders in Dubai last month.
He will be honored by the Islamic University (IIU) in Pakistan along with former South African legendary president Nelson Mandela this week. In December, he was adorned with honorary Doctor of Laws by Dhaka University.
Exemplary
Mahathir said the success of Malaysia could be emulated in other Muslim countries, highlighting the need to establish justice and combat corruption as well as reforming education systems.
Unfortunately, he said, school curricula in most Muslim countries are flawed and weak.
They are not harnessed for the best interests of society, unlike those of the United States and other developed countries where textbooks are designed for implementing their policies and serving their population, Mahathir lamented.
He prided himself in the fact that Malaysia has succeeded to a great extent to position itself in the rank of countries aware of the need for a creative education system.
Arab and Muslim countries badly need to make the best use of scientific applications as well, he added.
US Hegemony
Known to many who remember his 22-year rule for his combative and outspoken style, Mahathir took a swipe at the US pledges to promote reform worldwide.
To him, democracy is not a magic wand people have to wave to bring in happiness and prosperity, as what really matters is that citizens could enjoy freedom and feel justice.
Yet, what is more important than all is to know how to use democracy, function it to gear welfare and justice, and make people used to living in democratic atmosphere, the charismatic Malaysian premier said.
Mahathir frequently urged the Muslim world to keep pace with the West by equipping itself with state-of-the-art technology to restore its former glory.
Smear Campaign
The former premier called on US forces to pack up and leave Iraq in an effort to halt bloodshed and leave it for Iraqis to run their own affairs, renewing support for the right of Iraqis and Palestinians to resist occupation of their own lands.
It is a legitimate right guaranteed by all religious laws and statures, he affirmed.
Mahathir further warned against a potential US invasion of Iran, saying an administration that defied millions of protestors and occupied Iraq would not mind putting other countries on the hit list.
He also dismissed accusing him of anti-Semitism, saying he told the Israeli TV in an earlier interview that he stood against Israel’s colonization in Palestinian territories and killing civilians.
In 2003, the former Malaysian premier found himself in troubled waters after saying “Europeans killed six million Jews out of 12 million. But today the Jews rule this world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them.”
“Because of pogroms in Europe during the World War 2, the Muslims allowed the Jews to migrate in their countries because the Muslims are tolerant,” he has said.
Addressing the Cairo audience, he slammed the racial campaigns against Muslims in different parts of the world.
Extremists are in all religions, perhaps more extensively there in Christianity and Judaism than in Islam, he said.
The Malaysian leader accused some powers controlling media in the west of hating Islam and attempting to tarnish its image.