Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the United States and the Muslim world must stand ready to confront terror swiftly, ensuring that the barbarism seen in Syria and Iraq is rooted out.

Najib, who is on a three-day visit here for the Arab Islamic-American Summit, said it was is up to all of the Muslim and US leaders at the summit to forge a partnership, and they must prove, once and for all, that there was no clash of civilisation between the Muslim and Western worlds.

In an editorial in al Riyadh today, he wrote: “There is only a clash with civilisation, and on that, we all — members of all religions — must stand united together as one: firm, determined and ready to act.”

Although the so-called caliphate established by the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria was diminishing, Najib said the threat from terrorists who blaspheme the name of Islam remained high.

Najib joins 54 other world leaders and representatives, including US President Donald Trump, at the summit.

Malaysia suffered its first attempted IS-linked attack last year, and Najib said it was only through the determined, heroic actions of the police and security forces that prevented fatalities and thwarted further atrocities.

“Now, more than ever, the world needs a new partnership to confront extremism and terrorism that His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud proposes we build at this summit.”

Najib is also due to participate in the inauguration of the Saudi Arabia-led Global Centre for Combating Extremist Ideology, which aims to fight radicalism and promote moderation.

Source: nst.com.my