SINGAPORE -- All 10 ASEAN countries have agreed with the King Salman Center for International Peace (KSCIP) initiative, said Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
"I will bring it up to Saudi Arabia," he told Malaysian media on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow 2018 here today.
"I believe we are on a good platform. Whether it is successful or not depends on how we convince our people.”
"And if we allow Daesh to flourish, I'm afraid it cannot be controlled later," he said.
The King Salman Center for International Peace aims to rectify the perception of the international community towards Islam commenced operations in Malaysia May last year.
The center works closely with the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology (GCCEI) launched by Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and United States president Donald Trump in Riyadh last year.
Hishammuddin arrived here Monday to attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Retreat held in conjunction with the Singapore Airshow 2018.
Singapore currently holds the ASEAN Chairmanship.
Hishammuddin described the ties between ASEAN Defense Ministers as very close.
"We have the opportunity to discuss matters relating to terrorism, especially on Daesh in Asia," he said.
Hishammuddin also said the same matter was discussed by ASEAN Defence Ministers during a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
"Malaysia emphasizes on counter-narrative and counter-ideology via the KSCIP initiative. It is for peace. It emphasizes soft power.”
"The military approach is not sufficient," he added.
As part of the Retreat program, Hishammuddin together with the ASEAN Defense Ministers had an informal meeting with the Chinese Minister of National Defense General Chang Wanquan, who was in Singapore for his introductory visit until Feb 8.
Hishammuddin leaves for Kuala Lumpur this evening. (Bernama)
