London: The new generation and young Malaysians must have the courage to reject corruption, racism, and religious extremism, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today. In making the call, Anwar emphasized that while Malaysia is a multiracial and peaceful country, there are individuals attempting to divide the nation through racial and religious extremism.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar stated that Malaysia's MADANI concept does not compromise on issues like corruption and leaders squandering wealth, regardless of coalition affiliations. He made these remarks during a question-and-answer session following his lecture at the London School of Economics (LSE). Anwar highlighted that although the Constitution guarantees the rights of the majority-Muslims, Malays, and Bumiputeras-some groups exploit race-based policies to incite hatred towards other races.

Anwar asserted his firm stance against such exploitation, stating that while criticism of his policies is acceptable, using race and religious cards is not. On his five-day working visit to the United Kingdom, Anwar noted Malaysia's past growth potential was hindered by poor governance and greed. He called on young people to reject corruption and religious bigotry and emphasized the importance of tolerance in a multiracial country like Malaysia.

The lecture at LSE was attended by approximately 500 students and lecturers, including Malaysian students. During his talk, Anwar also discussed the double standards in defining human rights, rules, and norms, citing global student protests against Israel's actions in Palestine and the harsh responses from some governments.

In response to a question about Malaysia's non-ratification of the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, Anwar explained that the Malaysian government treats refugees well despite not being a signatory. He mentioned the presence of several million illegal workers and refugees in Malaysia, including about 200,000 from Myanmar, and affirmed that Malaysia's stance is to treat them humanely.