Despite its inter-communal problems and tensions, Malaysia's management of ethnic and religious pluralism compares well and offers lessons to other countries, said former United Nations' secretary-general Kofi Annan.

"I have no doubts there are difficulties and problems, but look around you and compare with other situations," the Ghanian statesman told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Annan was asked to comment on the straining of ties following what some quarters have described as the increasing Islamisation of government policies and agencies.

This, they say, has resulted in widening of the fault-lines between the Muslim-Malay majority and the religious and racial minorities.
Annan suggested the problems, though real, need to be placed in perspective.

Citing a trip to Brussels soon after France and the Netherlands vetoed in 2005 against the proposed European Union (EU) constitution, Annan said he was told during much of his two-day visit of the peoples' anxieties and concerns of a breakdown of the EU.

Reports had described the development as a 'political earthquake' that would reverberate throughout Europe.

"I reminded them that there were many regions in the world that would love to have the problem of Europe if that was their only problem," said the 2001 joint Nobel Peace laureate with the UN..

Extremists have succeeded to cause divisions in society everywhere in the world, he said.

'Share with others'

However, the problem could be alleviated if the "silent majority" spoke up to deny these extremists their claim to represent the respective religions, Annan added.

Annan also said Malaysia can claim to be a country that has been relatively peaceful and has managed its ethnic mix "better than any other society that I can think of immediately."

"This is a lesson that you need to share with others," he said.

"Malaysia is an example that can be emulated, with all the difficulties you see. But compare that with other countries and other regions, and I think, you'll put things in perspective," he said further.

Annan also felt that Malaysia could provide leadership in the international arena in the way it had offered troops to Lebanon as part of efforts to enforce a cease-fire in 2006 between Israel and the Lebanese Hizbullah forces.

On another matter, Annan described a meeting earlier this morning with former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim and his family as one between "old friends." He declined to elaborate.

In a statement released by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who was also at the meeting, she said Annan had been instrumental during the international campaign for the release of her husband, during his time in the UN.

"Apart from reminiscing some of their shared experiences, there were more serious topics on the table, including the political situation in Malaysia, the global turmoil, developments in Africa and the Middle East.

"Both of them debated and examined constructive strategies in bringing about lasting peace in the Middle East," she said.

The one-hour breakfast meeting at Carcosa Seri Negara was also attended by Annan's personal aide, a local UN official and Nurul Izzah Anwar, the political coordinator of Anwar Ibrahim's office.

The two-term former UN secretary-general is in Malaysia to deliver the inaugural address to the Khazanah Global Lectures.