The former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia calls for pluralism.

Anwar Ibrahim, the charismatic leader of Malaysia’s Parti Keadilan Rakyar (People’s Justice Party) on Thursday said here the communal politics that defined birth of India in 1947, continues to be fanned in the country. Mr. Ibrahim urged for a tolerant world based on pluralism and freedom of religion and said his country is determined to protect freedom of religion for indigenous communities and religious minorities.

“The awful history of communal violence that was the birth of Indian independence continues to be incited and tragically re-enacted thanks to the visions of the past that embrace the thesis of Partition,” said Mr. Ibrahim in his speech at the annual Raisina Dialogue.

Mr. Ibrahim said India’s democratic process is a strength of the country which makes it unique in a region where most of the countries have troubling democratic credentials.

Meets PM

Earlier in the day, Mr. Ibrahim met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Ibrahim on his recent election as President of the PKR Party. The Prime Minister fondly recalled their last meeting in Malaysia in May 2018,” a press statement from the Ministry of External Affairs stated.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia on his recent election victory. Mr. Ibrahim was accompanied by two Indian-origin members of the Malaysian Parliament, Kesavan Subramanian and Santhara Kumar Ramanaidu.