We the undersigned Malaysian citizens from all walks of life hereby register our hopes, admiration and above all our support to the urging for rational dialogues that was recently penned by 25 right-minded, inspired and courageous citizens.

The widely published letter penned by 25 eminent and determined Who-is-Who in Malaysia certainly ignites a bright and encouraging light at the end of Malaysia’s darkened tunnel of politics.

We concur with the issues raised by this group of distinguished Malaysian Malay Muslims and appeal to the country’s leadership and especially the ruling political party to address the concerns raised vis-à-vis the “continuing unresolved disputes on the position and application of Islamic laws in this country”.

Indeed Malaysia’s ability and “responsibility” in “demonstrating that justice is done and seen to be done”, is the very cornerstone of this multiracial, multi-religious and multicultural population once dubbed with hope as the ‘Rising Asian Tiger’.

As much as we support unconditionally the belief held by the patriotic Group of 25 noble men and women insofar as Islam is concerned, we likewise urge, along those same parameters, that all religions beholden to the various faithful should be allowed “to continue to be relevant and universal in our times”; and the teachings of our respective faiths must be allowed and continue to evolve without any agenda of fear, misrepresentation, oppression or blinkered justice.  

To our courageous, informed and well intended Group of 25 illustrious men and women, we salute you for your expressions of concern and for categorically speaking without fear or favor but in the best and sole interest of nation building.

We assert that no nation can progress when politics and religion get muddled with self-serving and narrow agendas; no progress can last when religion is made a scapegoat or pawn on the political checkerboard; no religion ruins civilisation when we take the moderate path that is universally proclaimed and cherished.

For we, too, concur that religion has guided all of God’s creation professing their respective beliefs, through harsh and challenging times.

Hence, the statement made by this inspired group that “there are many pressing issues affecting all of us that need the urgent leadership and vision of the prime minister, the support of his cabinet and all moderate Malaysians” secures our unconditional support.

The time is here and now and we must not be guilty as a nation for letting this opportunity slip by. This is a defining period in our national transformation quests and so we must see to the rational dialogue on the application of Islamic laws and other laws in the country.

The federal constitution must reign supreme for it has and shall always be the torch that leads us as a one nation of people, united, out of these darkening clouds of divisiveness, confusion and misguided justice.

No right-minded Malaysian will let this nation be pockmarked and marred by any form of extremism - be it in politics, social, economy or the environment. We will and we are certain too that millions more, will defend our nationhood from any form of extremism.

And in that spirit desiring to be free of fear, suspicion and hatred, we are heartened to note and do value the numerous rounds of applause within corporate corridors, the marketplace, on the Internet highways and the media-scape as people share their support and hopes on the matters of concern raised by the Group of 25 Malaysian Malay Muslim personalities.

Signed:

1. JD Lovrenciear, director, Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia,

2. Brig-Gen (R) Mohd Arshad Mohd Raji, chairperson, Asian Public Relations Academy,

3. Mahadev Shankar, former Court of Appeal judge and Threee times royal commissioner,

4. Saw Choo Boon. Former chairperson of Shell Malaysia,

5. Pardip Kumar Kukreja, chairperson, Malaysia Nepal Business Council,

6. Halim Abdullah, retired civil servant, former state secretary, Penang,

7. Lee Lam Thye, trustee, 1Malaysia Foundation,

8. Ramon Navaratnam, former secretary-general, Transport Ministry, deputy sec-gen Finance Ministry,

9. (Dr) Ameer Mydin, managing director, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad,

10. Yong Poh Kon, former president, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM),

11. A Vaithilingam, founder and former president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), former president, Malaysia Hindu Sangam,

12. Ramli Yusof, senior partner, Ramli Yusoff & Co,

13. Michael Kang, national vice-president, SMI Association of Malaysia,

14. Sardar Harcharan Singh, founder, former president, vice-president of the Malaysian Gurudwaras Council,

15. Taizoon H Tyebkhan, former president, Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry,

16. SH Wong, chairperson, Malaysian American Electronics Industry (MAEI), Amcham,

17. Bhupat Rai Premji, director, India International Bank,

18. Wan Saiful Wan Jan, chief executive, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas),

19. Andy Seo, executive chairperson of Alphaprima Engineering Sdn Bhd,

20. Kesav Aggarwal, executive director, Bharat Group of Companies,

21. Lachman Naraindas, JSM, AMN, former president, KL & Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KLSICCI),

22. Dr R Palan, chairperson/CEO SMRT Holdings Berhad,

23. Selvaraja Chinniah, advocate & solicitor,

24. Stephen Nah, founder & member, Service Civil International (SCI Malaysia),

25. VL Kandan, former member of the Selangor state executive council,

26. Din Merican, senior research fellow, Cambodian Institute of Cooperation & Peace and adjunct professor,

27. Dr Kamsiah Haider, university associate professor and dental surgeon,

28. SC Shekar, photo-journalist & publisher,

29. Lynette Yeow, advocate & solicitor,

30. Dr Denison Jayasooria, secretary-general, Proham,

31. Michael Yeoh, CEO Asli,

32. Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah, former commissioner, Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam),

33. Andrew Khoo, advocate & solicitor, High Court of Malaysia.