Kuala lumpur: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has underscored the importance of unity, compassion, and moral character in navigating an increasingly fragmented world. He emphasized that diversity was created to foster understanding rather than division, and highlighted the Quran as a timeless guide not only in worship but also in leadership, governance, and social relations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah stated, "In a world filled with competing voices, the Quran calls us back to what is upright: to clarity over confusion, to mercy over division, and to purpose over noise." He made these remarks at the launch of the revised international edition of the book, 'The Quran and I: Memoir of an Entrepreneur Who Grew Up In Poverty and Multicultural Malaysia.'
Fadillah pointed out that unity, in the Quranic tradition, is about harmony rather than uniformity, advocating for understanding over suspicion and dignity over division. "The Quran offers a timeless answer. It calls for balance. It calls for compassion. And it calls for the protection of human dignity," he said.
He observed that Malaysia's plural society offers a 'quiet example' of coexistence, with mosques, temples, churches, and gurdwaras standing side by side. He emphasized that national unity is built through daily practices such as neighborliness, mutual respect, and the willingness to see humanity before difference.
"From Sarawak to Penang, from Sabah to Selangor, Malaysians have long practiced what the Quran teaches: That strength lies not in separation, but in coexistence. Unity, for us, has never been a slogan. It has been a daily practice," Fadillah added.
The book, authored by entrepreneur Anas Zubedy, reflects on personal faith and growing up in multicultural Malaysia.