The significance of ‘The Prominent 25’
By Zan Azlee

Earlier in the week, news broke about a group of 25 top former senior civil servants who had penned and signed a document on the state of Malaysia’s race and religious discourse.

They are calling for better and stronger leadership in the government to counter the extremist Islamic views that are cropping out from amongst current leaders and politicians.

They are strongly against the statement made by minister in the Prime Minister’s office, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, regarding the transgender issue in Negeri Sembilan.

And, they are also calling for all moderate Malays and Muslims to speak out against the extreme and intolerant voices who do not speak for the whole of the Malay Muslim community.

This group of 25 wants to see proper, informed, rational and inclusive discourse happening when it comes to race and religious relations so that the harmony of Malaysian society isn’t destroyed.

They seem to believe that the insecurity of those in power have led to the rise in the voice of these extremists just so that they can grasped to power even tighter.

What is the significance of these 25 people and what they have expressed? [Click to read the full article at English.AstroAwani.Com]