No place for violent extremism in ASEAN - Najib

Datuk Seri Najib Razak has rallied ASEAN countries to stand united against the threat of violent extremism, against the backdrop of the Paris attacks and, closer to home, the murder of a Malaysian by a militant group in southern Philippines.

The Malaysian prime minister said ASEAN, home to over 600 million people, must remain as a beacon of moderation and an oasis of peace and tolerance.

He pointed out that the citizens of ASEAN were inherently moderate people who had made a virtue out of their diversity, different faiths, ethnicities and cultures.

"The power of our example of remaining peaceful, tolerant, harmonious and inclusive societies is our best defence and guarantee against violent extremism, against terrorist groups, against those people who seek to destroy our way of life," he said.

Najib said this when opening the 2015 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit here today in conjunction with the 27th ASEAN Summit and related summits.