The voices of moderation need to be heard loud to counter the worrisome trend of racial and religious extremism that threatened the country's peace and stability.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Joseph Kurup said the people should never allow extremism to find a 'hospitable environment' in the country and change everything that they had struggled to build.

"When extreme views become infectious, they always invariably result in epidemics and we see many conflicts across the world that have resulted in wanton destruction of precious lives and resources," he said in his keynote address at the eighth Swami Satyananda Memorial Lecture 2015, at Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital in Petaling jaya today.

Kurup said if Malaysians dreamt of a future that was harmonious and peaceful, then this could only be achieved through moderate attitudes.

"We need to have zero tolerance against religious bigotries and extremism," he added.

- Bernama