KUALA LUMPUR: The fear that Malaysia would end up like Pakistan and Afghanistan was what drove former ambassador Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin (pic) to rally other prominent moderate Malays to make a stand against religious extremism in the country.

“I do not want Malaysia to be known as a country that politicises Islam and I do not want to see Malaysia become like Pakistan and Afghanistan with its growing Islamic extremism driving out their professionals and talented people,” said Noor Farida, who with 24 other prominent Malays of the country penned an open letter calling for a rational dialogue on the position of Islam in Malaysia on Monday.