Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi warned Wednesday that the government will crack down on those who use religion to incite violence.
Pointing out advances made over the last three years of his rule at an annual assembly of the ruling party, the United Malays National Organization, he said the press is now freer to criticize the executive branch and there is more openness.
But there are also increased racial and religious tensions, which Abdullah said was partly due to the new openness that resulted in more debates over such sensitive issues.
"Let there not be any party who try to test the will of the government in this matter. If need be, the government will strictly apply the law to ensure the nation's stability, peace and prosperity are not jeopardized," he said.
He alluded to a recent incident of a text message alleging that a church was baptizing hundreds of Muslim converts. The message turned out to be false but it sparked tense demonstrations by hundreds of Muslims outside the church.
"Let me be clear -- Islam Hadhari (civilisational Islam) is not a blank cheque to bring about conservative revivalism in this country. Neither is it a blank cheque for permissiveness," he said in the 90-minute presidential address that was telecast live.
"While I will protect Islam's position and the role of the Shariah courts from being undermined, I will also ensure that no one tries to hijack Islam in Malaysia in order to breed intolerance and hatred," Abdullah warned.
Ties between Malay Muslims and non-Muslims have been strained recently over a number of issues.
The latest was over the affirmative-action policy that accords special privileges to Malays, from entrance to public universities to access to government contracts. The policy is aimed at reducing poverty and racial economic disparities.
After 35 years, non-Malays believe the New Economic Policy, as the affirmative-action policy is known, should be scrapped.
The government however said the NEP targets have not been achieved.
It pointed out that Malay equity share in the corporate sector is only at 18.9 percent, far from the target of 30 percent.
UMNO, which models itself as a champion of the Malays, had threatened to "fight to the last drop of blood," as one delegate said, against those who challenge the Malay special privileges.
Abdullah said the government is committed to reducing the income gap between the ethnic groups.