Umno president and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said that his party was committed to strengthening Islam and will not apologise for doing so.

However he quickly added that Umno would not endorse a narrow interpretation of Islam, pledging that everyone in Umno would show exemplary behaviour by respecting the followers of other religions and their needs.

"The application of Islam through the prism of shallow minds and narrow interpretations can cause discomfort not only among non-Muslims, but among Muslims themselves," he said in his opening address at the 58th Umno annual general meeting today.

"Failure to understand the needs of adherents of other religions and denying them their rights runs counter to the spirit of the federal constitution," he added to a round of thunderous applause.

Stating that Islam promoted moderation, Abdullah said that his widely accepted Islam Hadhari principles proved that the approach to Islam as promoted by Umno was fair.

He also said that calls to return to the spirit of the federal constitution should be viewed in a positive light, interpreted with wisdom and without prejudice.

"The constitution must be viewed as a whole, and selected clauses cannot be interpreted in isolation or out of context. The constitution provides that Islam the official religion of the Federation but there is freedom to practice other religions.

"Guided by the spirit of the constitution, Malaysians of different religions must exercise mutual respect," he said.

Abdullah also warned that the disrespect and extremism shown by one party will elicit a similar response from another party.

"If we want our religion to be respected and understood, let us, in Umno, show exemplary behaviour by respecting the followers of other religions and their needs," he added.

Misguided few

He also said that overzealous enforcement will only give Islam a negative image.

"Umno opposes the culture of violence, we oppose a political culture that can disrupt the daily lives and commercial affairs of the ummah.

"Islam must not be downsized to fit the needs of a political organisation. Islam cannot become the exclusive domain of any single group.

"Umno believes that Islam will not grow, nor will it be respected if it is confined to rituals. If we fight for Islam, armed only with slogans and rhetoric, we will not achieve excellence.

He said that Islam must be explained to its followers, but also to non-Muslims.

"Islam must be identified as a religion that dispenses justice, prohibits inequity and rejects violence.

"There is nothing wrong with Islam, the error lies in the misguided actions by those who fail to interpret Islam and those who fail to practice it with open minds and rational thought," he said.