Centre for a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) co-president Gan Ping Sieu has urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to practise what he preaches to the United Nations.

Gan, a former MCA vice-president, was referring to Najib's speech at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, where he espoused moderation as a principle that ran through all civilisations and faiths and took a hard stance against extremists.

"Najib should take a leaf from his own speech to the UN General Assembly, especially in battling domestic extremism, which has become more rampant of late.

"While such foreign policy is admirable, it would be hypocritical if the government does not abide by such principles on the domestic front," he said.

Gan said while Najib expressed commitment at the UN that the full brunt of the law would be used on militants back home, the same should apply to extremists who spew hatred and sowed discord.

"One should not be deluded into thinking that those who bomb malls and carry out suicide missions can inflict more damage than those who instigate hatred and tear our social fabric beyond recognition for generations to come.

"Both should be condemned and acted upon for the untold damage they can cause," said Gan.

Hardline stance of right wing groups

Gan said that various right-wing groups and individuals have of late asserted their hardline stance to the detriment of national cohesion.

"They range from the Low Yat fallout; post-Bersih 4 racial slant, the red-shirts rally; controversy surrounding the Chinese ambassador's visit to Petaling Street; status of national-type primary schools and controversial statements by the likes of Jamal Mohd Yunos and Annuar Musa, just to name a few.

"The government should immediately act against these elements of extremism, some of which clearly promote ill-will.

"Failure to act will further embolden more extremists to push the envelope of freedom of speech, to the point that it undermines our already fragile sense of unity," he said.

Gan said Cenbet is hopeful that the government will not say something at an international forum and then move on to do something else domestically.

"It would make a mockery of the prime minister's address to the UN if this happens," he added.