Government officials called on area Islamic leaders on to set good examples for their followers and help eliminate corruption and illegal drug use at a seminar in Pattaya.
Preecha Kanthiya, director-general of the Culture Ministry’s Department of Religious Affairs, Uthit Buasri, director for strategy and police for the Region 2 Office of Narcotics Control Bureau, and Islamic community advisor Santi Sua-saming hosted the lecture session at the Sun City Hotel March 26.
Preecha Kanthiya, director-general of the Culture Ministry’s Department of Religious Affairs.
Preecha said religious leaders can play an important role in preventing corruption in different Islamic communities in Chonburi, Rayong, Trat, Chantaburi and Ratchaburi. They were encouraged to pursue the goals of the Department of Religious Affairs by teaching citizens to be moral and ethical, using Islamic teachings to govern themselves and become the foundation of solidarity and reconciliation to resolve issues and bring peace to Muslim people.
In cases where corruption is found, religious leaders were encouraged to contact the Culture Ministry, saying their cooperation can be the foundation for reconciliation.
The seminar also gave religious leaders a chance to network and exchange ideas about developing their mosques, better instill moral values in youths and prevent corruption.
Phatphan Sukhying, Director of Bureau of Policy and Strategy, ONCB Region 2, also spoke of how leaders could help combat drug use by being the “eyes and ears” for police and passing along information on drug-processing labs and dealers.
