KLUANG: Malaysia was chosen as the site for the proposed King Salman Centre of Peace because of its practice of true Islam, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today.
The newly-appointed Special Functions Minister in the Prime Minister's Department revealed that this will be one of the messages Umno will be delivering during the 14th general election (GE14).
“Malaysia upholds the true meaning of Islam, as it embraces tolerance, moderation, peace and love,” Hishammuddin said at a press conference after declaring open the community gathering of the Felda Kahang Timur branch and the Felda Ulu Dengar branch here, today.
“Saudi Arabia could have chosen countries that are richer and stronger (in which to build the centre), but it chose Malaysia, as King Salman believes we can correct the world’s perception of Islam,” he said.
On a separate matter, Hishammuddin said the newly-launched Jalinan Rakyat Plus (JR Plus) machinery will prove that there is strength in diversity, as all Umno party members and BN component parties – from Women, Youth and the main wing – will move as one to woo voters and defend the ruling government.
Dubbing Kahang and Sembrong, where Hishammuddin is MP, as a “mini Malaysia” with 43,000 voters and 29 district polling centres, he urged all BN parties to move in unison in their preparations for GE14.
“War rooms have to adhere to guidelines and start identifying the white voters, persuadable voters and new voters, in line with the JR Plus initiative,” he said.
Meanwhile, a trilateral maritime patrol initiative under the trilateral cooperative arrangement involving Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, will soon be launched to beef up maritime security in the Sulu Sea.
“Ideally, there should be meetings every fortnight involving representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines,” he said.
The trilateral cooperative arrangement was signed between the three countries last year.
Two other initiatives – intelligence-sharing and joint communications – have already been launched.