In the wake of the deadly attacks in Paris, United States President Barack Obama today urged youths of South-East Asia to set an example by standing up together against violence and extremism.

In facing the challenge, he said, young people in the region should hold more interfaith dialogues towards nurturing tolerance and embracing cultural differences.

“A lot of us have been thinking about the attacks in Paris and about the terrible vision of those who carried out the attacks. And you contrast that with young people who are represented here, who build things and help each other.

“Set an example to not only stand up to violence and extremism, but build interfaith dialogues, promote tolerance and appreciate the culture and vision of each other,” he said.

Obama, who arrived in Malaysia today to attend Asean-related meetings, was speaking at a townhall meeting with youths under the Young South-East Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) at a private university in Subang Jaya near Kuala Lumpur.

- Bernama