Bahrain : Gulf and Asian nations must find commonalities and nurture them across the different sectors as two regions connected by so many commonalities, Malaysia’s Senior Minister of Defence Hishammuddin Hussein has said.
“We must work hard now, to secure the future we want for our children and grandchildren. We owe it to ourselves, to build a solid foundation for this vision of a shared future. We must be able to chart our own joint destiny. We must avoid being pulled away in different directions, and forge singularity in vision,” he said.
Addressing the second plenary session of the Manama Dialogue 2021 “Gulf and Asia”, Hussein stressed the importance of facing the lurking risks and challenges and of building bridges for a better future for the next generations.
He pointed out that the biggest challenge facing the world today is the Corona pandemic, which has become a top priority and international efforts must be combined to confront it.
The minister stressed the need to unite efforts and unify visions for the good of mankind and that it is necessary today to look forward, and to deal together with challenges that seem formidable and endless, adding “we do not want to lose hope.”
He called for common action to confront the challenges based on building strategic relations and extending bridges of cooperation with regions with common interest in enhancing security and cooperation and finding solutions to challenges, as well as enhancing confidence.
Highlighting Malaysia’s commitment to fighting extremism, he said that his country joined the international coalition against Daesh in 2014.
A vital move forward is for the countries to build on the trust that they have worked to strengthen over the past years, he added.
Hussein said that relations between the Gulf states and Southeast Asia are deep-rooted and that they are constructive.
He warned against lowering guards in the fight against terrorism.
Gulf and Asian nations must be vigilant in the fight against extremism, and must not take their eyes off this war, he said.
The developments in Afghanistan may serve as a morale-booster to dormant militant groups in Southeast Asia, giving rise to the concern that both regions may once again become a haven for terror groups seeking a new base, he warned.
The minister cautioned that while the world focuses on COVID-19, it has given the impression that terrorism and extremism have taken a back seat, and governments must not allow this to cloud their judgement and lull them into a false sense of security.
“The moment extremists feel we are distracted is the moment they intensify their evil intentions,” he said.
The minister said both regions had an opportunity to forge a better future together in a new global landscape as the world transitions into endemicity and must not squander it away.
