You may be forgiven if you have never heard of the Global Movement of Moderates — GMM, for short — which is touted by its proponents in Malaysia as a “new approach” in international relations and foreign policy, aimed at applying perspectives and frameworks of moderation to achieve world peace and harmony.

While the GMM is yet to make a mark on the international stage — the movement is actually the brainchild of Malaysian Prime Minister Najeeb Razaq — it has been highlighted by Razaq during his annual appearances at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the last time being on September 26, 2014. His favourite line runs as follows: “The real divide is not between Muslims and non-Muslims or between the developed and developing worlds. It is between moderates and extremists.” Razaq contended that at the “international level, moderation can guide our approach to the great global challenges of our age: Violent extremism, sustainable development and equitable growth”.

In the past, the GMM idea did not get much attention outside the borders of Malaysia, which calls itself a liberal and tolerant Muslim-majority state with multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious characteristics.

America, looking like a helpless giant unsure of how to respond to the proliferating crises all over the world — Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, South China Sea, etc — also faces a new kid on the terrorist block called Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant); the world is stunned by Daesh’s cruelty and savage brutality while pursuing its goal of establishing Sharia and a state subservient to it in Iraq and Syria. Some security experts, with a penchant for hyperbole, say that Daesh makes Al Qaida group look like “saints”.

Between Razaq’s 2013 and 2014 appearances at the UN, global turbulence deteriorated to such an extent that America’s plate, already full, had simply no place for any additional problems. This is where attention turned to Razaq’s moderation idea that could provide a way out of the world’s current malaise.

Razaq argues that the centre stage of international affairs, which is today dominated by extremist elements, should give way to moderates, with the GMM envisioned as a platform for the silent moderate majority to present a united front in exploring, formulating and implementing effective and compelling ways to counter the spread, influence and consequences of extreme views and actions.

Razaq has been calling on moderates of all countries and of all religions to seize back the momentum, reclaim the agenda for peace and pragmatism and marginalise extremists of all faiths. The GMM, in his view, will save the world from sinking into the abyss of despair and depravation.

In the name of religion

Razaq’s condemnation of the Daesh in his UN address could make it difficult for the West to continue lamenting that no Muslim moderate leader raised his voice against the violent extremism responsible for carrying out atrocities in the name of religion.

At the UN, Razaq condemned Daesh, saying the “two forces — violent extremism and religious intolerance — had joined hands beneath a black flag”. Saying that Daesh challenged the very notion of the state, Razaq emphasised: “We reject this so-called Islamic State [Daesh]. We reject this state defined by extremism. And we condemn the violence being committed in the name of Islam.”

Around the world, he said, Muslims watched in despair as Islam continues to be used to justify atrocities, adding that the threat to world peace and security is not Islam, but extremism.

Razaq’s credentials in the eyes of the West have been bolstered with his pointer that protection of life is a fundamental precept of Islamic law; and the killing of civilians, even in war, is prohibited in Islam.

Malaysia’s co-sponsorship of UN resolution 2178 on foreign terrorist fighters was appreciated by the majority of UN members, including those from the West. Not surprisingly, Malaysia was elected for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the October 16 with an overwhelming majority of 187 out of 192 votes.

Malaysia could also play the role of a mediator in international conflict resolution. Indeed, Malaysia is keen to profile itself as an “honest broker”, as its diplomats like to say, in resolving disputes, as it did in the southern Philippines and elsewhere.

By condemning religious extremism, Razaq’s call to stop Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, appears credible to many in the West.

The Malaysian prime minister says that moderation has also helped his country manage issues of diversity. Despite complaints about the treatment of its own minorities, Malaysia has “hands-on” experience in managing its diversity of communities who are taught at a very young age to respect all religions; mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship coexist in Malaysia’s religious mosaic that includes Islam and other faiths such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity etc, and everyone gets to enjoy the right to celebrate his or her religious and cultural festivities as national events.

The world needs to support the idea of moderation and encourage Razaq to mediate between the West and the Muslim world.

The GMM, despite its shortcomings, does have some merits in a world whose structures, as we know them, could crumble if the “clash of civilisations” intensifies.

 

— Manik Mehta is a commentator on Asian affairs.