Unity council plans nationwide road shows to foster goodwill and harmony

The Malaysian Insider 
by JENNIFER GOMEZ

The recently-formed National Unity Consultative Council will hold a series of dialogues to collect feedback from the public on national unity and inter-ethnic harmony, said

Themed 'Voice of the Grassroots', the 18 dialogue sessions will cover all states in the country and will start this Saturday at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka auditorium in Kuala Lumpur.

The dialogues, which will conclude on March 30, will be launched by the minister in charge of national unity, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.

Joint secretariat member for Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Institute of Ethnic Studies and the National Unity and Integration Department, Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria (pic), said the dialogue sessions will be open to individuals and groups.

He added that apart from the road shows, there would be simultaneous discussions, including closed-door, to facilitate certain groups and thematic topics, such as on religious freedom and wealth distribution.

"Some issues might be sensitive and need greater in-depth study, so we can hold smaller discussions behind closed doors.

"What is important is that all this information and views will be factored into the making of the National Unity Blueprint," he explained.

Jayasooria said it was premature to conclude that the dialogues might not attract certain groups that are averse to unity talks such as Malay rights group Perkasa.

"Let's not pre-empt the situation. For all you know, these groups might turn up at all 18 locations," he told The Malaysian Insider.

The NUCC was formed on November 30 in the aftermath of the 13th general election, following several issues and statements touching on race which surfaced in public.

The council has been tasked with formulating a National Unity Blueprint within two years but had said it will produce an interim report in six months.

The 30-member council includes PAS's Parit Buntar MP Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa, former deputy higher education minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, former Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee, activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, and Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

In announcing the dialogues, the NUCC said it would like to hear positive experience and stories of Malaysia’s achievement in ethnic relations.

The views collected will be documented by rapporteurs from several public universities for input into the formulation of the National Unity Blueprint.

Last Saturday, following its second meeting, NUCC said Putrajaya must uphold the rule of law and promote national unity by taking prompt action against provocative statements and actions that could lead to conflicts and tensions within the Malaysian society.

Saturday's dialogue will be followed by unity dialogues in Seremban and Malacca. On March 1, dialogues will be held in Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu, while March 8 and 9 will see the roadshow moving to Sabah and Pahang.

Dialogues will also be held in Labuan, Kedah and Penang (March 15), Perlis and Perak (March 16), Sibu and Miri (March 23 and 24). The last session will be held again in Kuala Lumpur on March 30. – February 17, 2014.