The Sun
Husna Yusop
"In promoting inter-ethnic and inter-faith dialogue, we found that very often in a more informal setting where all feel very comfortable, it is more effective than very rigid meeting or structure.
"(In formal structure) everyone feels very pressured, they feel they must have their own positions stated very clearly and they are not opening their minds and hearts," he said.
Speaking to reporters after delivering his New Year message to the National Unity and Integration Department staff here, Koh said the process of dialogue involving senior officers and himself, has been ongoing.
"We don’t want a rigid structure as yet but we want to encourage inter-religious harmony through dialogues and discussions. So, it is better that we chat over a cup of coffee, even in a mamak stall, as sometimes it is more effective," he added.
He said since every faith has its own denominations, representation and views, at this stage, a multi-faceted engagement was necessary to build up trust and confidence.
"Even if we have a formal structure (later), it is going to be in the form of dialogues and discussions and we may not call it inter-faith council or whatever rigid terms.
"We may call it a task force to promote understanding which is better than structuring everyone together. Formality overtakes substance," he said, adding the government was also reviewing the present structure that has existed for many years.
Koh said a few committees and councils have been set up previously and the government was reorganising them and looking at how to encourage inter-religious harmony and understanding through dialogues and discussions.
On the department’s activities, he said the Rukun Tetangga (RT) programme will be strengthened by sending its 125,000 members from 4,506 RT nationwide for training in communications and mediation skill.
He also said plans were under way to set up a planning and research unit for national integration efforts with the cooperation of academicians and higher learning institutions.
Husna Yusop
PUTRAJAYA (Jan 19, 2010): Teh tarik session, not boardroom setting – that’s the approach the government is taking to resolve inter-religious issues in the country.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon said today inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogues and discussions were best carried out in a manner which is comfortable to all sides rather than in an official rigid structure.
As such, he said, there is no immediate need for the government to set up a specific council or committee to resolve inter-religious issues.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon said today inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogues and discussions were best carried out in a manner which is comfortable to all sides rather than in an official rigid structure.
As such, he said, there is no immediate need for the government to set up a specific council or committee to resolve inter-religious issues.
"In promoting inter-ethnic and inter-faith dialogue, we found that very often in a more informal setting where all feel very comfortable, it is more effective than very rigid meeting or structure.
"(In formal structure) everyone feels very pressured, they feel they must have their own positions stated very clearly and they are not opening their minds and hearts," he said.
Speaking to reporters after delivering his New Year message to the National Unity and Integration Department staff here, Koh said the process of dialogue involving senior officers and himself, has been ongoing.
"We don’t want a rigid structure as yet but we want to encourage inter-religious harmony through dialogues and discussions. So, it is better that we chat over a cup of coffee, even in a mamak stall, as sometimes it is more effective," he added.
He said since every faith has its own denominations, representation and views, at this stage, a multi-faceted engagement was necessary to build up trust and confidence.
"Even if we have a formal structure (later), it is going to be in the form of dialogues and discussions and we may not call it inter-faith council or whatever rigid terms.
"We may call it a task force to promote understanding which is better than structuring everyone together. Formality overtakes substance," he said, adding the government was also reviewing the present structure that has existed for many years.
Koh said a few committees and councils have been set up previously and the government was reorganising them and looking at how to encourage inter-religious harmony and understanding through dialogues and discussions.
On the department’s activities, he said the Rukun Tetangga (RT) programme will be strengthened by sending its 125,000 members from 4,506 RT nationwide for training in communications and mediation skill.
He also said plans were under way to set up a planning and research unit for national integration efforts with the cooperation of academicians and higher learning institutions.
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