The government and people of Malaysia are very committed towards human rights values and principles even though the country comprises of various races and religious backgrounds, said Prime Minister Najib Razak.

He said although Malaysia was a country with Muslims as the majority, the people always respected the beliefs of others and this commitment was consistent with the national Constitution and values.  

"As Malaysians, we support human rights and also believe in the philosophy, concept and practices enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights," he said in his blog www.1malaysia.com.my today.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Dec 10, 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot, Paris.

The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled.

Najib has come under severe criticism for equating human rightism to a new religion when he opened the 57th national-level Quran recital assembly in Kuantan on Tuesday night.

- Bernama