Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi delivered a strong message for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festival today, urging greater economic development in Muslim nations to combat perceptions that Islam is against progress and promotes terrorism.

Abdullah, also the current chair of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference, said Muslims had to work to correct skewed Western perceptions that Islam was linked to terrorism.

But Muslims so far had failed to prove they were interested in economic progress, Abdullah said, adding that no Muslim countries had yet achieved developed nation status.

"So what's happening now doesn't really give a good picture," he said in a message to mark the Hari Raya festival.

"Actually what's happening, what's giving people a bad impression of our country is not just the work of others, but our own doing as well," said Abdullah in the speech released by the state Bernama news agency and televised late Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

While Islam taught its followers to be progressive in all fields, Muslims were not striving in that direction, said Abdullah, a Muslim scholar by training.

"I hope that this Hari Raya, we will make a joint resolution that we want our nation to be peaceful and safe, we want the Muslim world to be peaceful and safe and Muslims to be a united and progressive people," he said.

Foster ties with non-Muslims

The premier also called on the majority Malay Muslims to foster ties with other races in the multi-ethnic country, amid concerns over increasing racial polarisation.

Malaysians are preparing for a round of social visits with friends and relatives to mark the occasion.

Abdullah, with King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, started the day by visiting Malaysia's national mosque in Kuala Lumpur.

Flanked by his cabinet, Abdullah will then host a public "open house" event in the capital, expected to be attended by thousands of Malaysians hoping to pass on festive greetings to the premier.