Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today advised Malaysians abroad to think rationally and not to totally believe all news circulated on the social media.
He said Malaysians overseas should be matured and discerning enough to think rationally, make evaluations and come to conclusions.
Najib referred to the brawl over the weekend at Low Yat Plaza in Kuala Lumpur and pointed out how the incident was manipulated to look like a racial clash.
" Alhamdullilah , swift action by the authorities, especially the police, eased tension and prevented the brawl from becoming something more serious.
"The incident is a reminder to all of us not to totally trust whatever is served to us on the social media," he said during a video conferencing session at Seri Perdana with Malaysian envoys and student representatives in Lebanon, Washington and Brunei Darussalam in conjunction with Aidilfitri.
Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor; Foreign Minister Anifah Aman; Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin were also present during the one-hour video conferencing session.
The prime minister said he hoped that all Malaysians abroad, regardless of whether they were working, studying or residing there, would play their respective roles to keep the Malaysian flag flying high.
"Use the opportunity (of your presence abroad) to build our networking overseas to produce impressive outcomes," he said.
Najib said he hoped that Malaysians studying abroad would be able to raise their capacity to make more accurate evaluations in any situation. "Before we arrive at a conclusion, we have to think and make an accurate evaluation. In this way, we can build a united nation without any problem in ethnic relations, without extreme ideologies, but not to the extent of casting aside our religious and cultural values," he said.
On the video conferencing session in conjunction with Aidilfitri, Najib said it was a tradition to strengthen goodwill through the medium of teleconferencing to have a feel of the Aidilfitri atmosphere abroad. "In this way, I am able to feel the atmosphere at our missions abroad where everyone is busy preparing for Aidilfitri.
"Besides, Malaysians abroad will be yearning for the Aidilfitri atmosphere at home in Malaysia. Through this teleconferencing, we can show them the atmosphere in our country," he said.
Najib also said that the video conferencing this year was done earlier and not on the first day of Aidilfitri, which is most likely to be tomorrow.
He said he hoped that the missions would invite the local people and leaders to see how Malaysians celebrate Aidilfitri with open house and by serving many kinds of dishes.
"The open house tradition is unique. It is not something merely physical but involves the hearts and minds of Malaysians. Visitors from abroad are able to see how we live as a community of friendly Malaysians," he said.
Meanwhile, Rosmah advised Malaysian students abroad who were unable to return to celebrate Aidilfitri to telephone their parents and seek their forgiveness.
"As a mother, it is my hope that all of you will turn out to be exemplary children. It does not matter where you are. Children must always think of their parents. Do not forget that," she said, and asked the students to study hard to achieve excellence.
Throughout the video conference, Najib and Rosmah, who were in orange-coloured attire, enquired about the well-being of those who came on air and chatted with them.
- Bernama
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