Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, February 22 (IslamOnline.net) - Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Saturday, February 22, that the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is bound to change the current world order to ensure continued primacy of the multilateral process in the affairs of nations, reports the Malaysian, Bernama News Agency.

He said unilateralism was inimical to the interest of NAM, the second largest grouping after the United Nations (U.N.).

It is however a monumental task to change the world order, observers in Kuala Lumpur said.

"It (unilateralism) must strongly be resisted lest we find ourselves marginalized and our aim of creating a more just and secure world unfulfilled," he said when opening the 13th NAM Summit's Ministerial Meeting.

Badawi, bound to take the helm of Malaysia’s leadership in October this year said in a uni-polar world, NAM must continue to maintain its independent position in global affairs.

"NAM must continue to maintain our independent position in global affairs. We must continue to pursue peace and stability in the international order and to speak out against war, violence and terror," he said.

The 13th summit of the NAM is currently being held in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia will lead the organization for the next 3 years. The Malaysian government is seeking to get a formal anti-war declaration at the end of the summit.

The NAM is vastly opposed to the role of “policeman of the world” taken by the U.S., officials participating in the summit said.

Badawi said NAM must take steps to augment the sovereignty of the people and nations and to remedy the imbalances and injustices in the world for no superpower however benign and well-meaning, could ever represent the interests, or articulate the aspirations of the developing world.

"Only we ourselves can best represent our individual and collective interests," he said.

Stressing on the need for strong insights, creative ideas, innovative approaches and practical solutions, Badawi said NAM need the will to unite and take a stand.

He said it was only with collective will that NAM would once again occupy its place at the centre of global power as the legitimate voice of the world's majority.

The NAM was at its height during the cold war when it successfully opposed U.S. and Soviet hegemony in several parts of the world. It however suffered from lackluster after the collapse of the Soviet Union and has barely had a role to play in major international affairs since then.

The current summit is staged with the idea for the grouping to regain its relevance in the world of today and in the face of globalization. Badawi said to do so; the NAM must also address a wider range of issues.

The NAM he said should take a sensible and hardnosed approach to resolve global problems.

"Our numerical strength alone provides us with the political and moral legitimacy to speak on behalf of the developing nations,