I attended both the official launching of Peace Malaysia's Exposition o­n Feb 16 and the International Conference o­n Global Peace o­n Feb 17 organised by Peace Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. It was heartening to know that both the events were very well attended, with the conference having more than 1,000 delegates.

It was also good to see so many young Malaysians who were keen to understand the issues at hand. To those who have not heard of Peace Malaysia, it is a coalition of NGOs, youth and voluntary bodies, political parties, religious, welfare, student and professional organisations which share the common goal of pursuing a comprehensive, permanent and just world peace.

A total of 1,038 NGOs comprise the coalition and the number is increasing daily.

It was also very interesting to hear the keynote address of Deputy Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as he stated that millions of people throughout the world are demonstrating against the threat of war in Iraq.

This include rallies in cities of European countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, in Asian countries, in distant places like Russia, Turkey, the Antarctic and Iceland, and even in cities across the United States.

The demonstrations by people of various races, religions and creeds go to show that people do not support the idea of war. More so since these demonstrations are held even before war against Iraq has actually commenced.

Human history has taught us that war will mean death and suffering, not o­nly to the participants of war - that is, the soldiers - but also to the innocent, the civilians, the children, women and the elderly.

A bomb or a missile does not discriminate between a soldier and a civilian, between a child and an adult. A bomb or missile's launch is aimed at killing and maiming.

People around the world are reminded of the lessons of numerous wars, including the two world wars, and they do not subscribe to the very idea and numerous justifications for the US call to war. Not o­nly do people suffer and die, economies collapse and businesses wind up because of war.

More interestingly, as our deputy premier also pointed out, these demonstrations and rallies are changing the world order by forcing the powers that be to take heed of the voice of peoples throughout the world.

Popular polls throughout the world are at last serving the greater good by showing that the majority of people throughout the world do not support the war.

The time has come for all Malaysians to do their part. We are not disenfranchised by what goes o­n in the world. We can change things and we can influence global forces to consider our viewpoints.

Peace Malaysia has started a signature campaign to reject the war against Iraq. The campaign has managed to collect 1.2 million signatures as of Valentine's Day, far surpassing the o­ne million-signatures mark targeted by the organisers previously. Now, they are aiming at obtaining signatures from 10 percent of the population of Malaysia - around two million signatures.

I would urge all Malaysians to support this campaign by signing the petition. Additionally, Peace Malaysia's giant rally for peace will be held o­n Feb 23 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Selangor.

There will be performances by singers, poetry reading and pantomimes. I would urge all Malaysians to lend their support to this rally by attending it to make it the biggest peace rally that Asia has, and will, ever see.

Let's show the world that Malaysians are peaceful and peace-loving. Give peace a chance!