BY LOH FOON FONG
PETALING JAYA: Five working groups will be set up to address various unity-related issues when the National Unity Consultative Council members meet for the first time next month.
Its president Tan Sri Samsudin Osman said that the working groups comprise legal and the promotion of national harmonious policies, national building and cross-cultural understanding, inclusive development, youth and unity, and national integration.
“The members in the council are made up of a diverse group, with people of various backgrounds and age groups who are rich in experience,” he said yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the launch of the council on Monday to replace the National Unity Advisory Panel which ceased to function after the Emergency Ordinance was abolished.
Samsudin said that a lot of work had been done by the Prime Minister’s Department in collaboration with Institut Kajian Etnik of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and the council would work closely with them.
On critics doubting the council would have enough bite to carry through its recommendations, Samsudin said: “We are hopeful. The PM (Prime Minister) has given his assurance.
“The recommendations will be looked at by the Cabinet. We need to come up with policies that are pragmatic and can be implemented.”
Council member Associate Prof Dr Madeline Berma from the UKM’s Tun Fatimah Hashim Women’s Leadership Centre said she was glad the Government was putting a serious effort in uniting the various ethnic groups.
“I hope the work we do is not confined to consultative efforts. We want action,” said Dr Madeline, an Iban from Sarawak.
Another council member Audrey Goh, a life member of the Sarawak Federation of Women’s Institute said she saw her role in the council as a “bridge builder”.
She said she would use skills of advocacy and inquiry to engage and enlighten the community on unity and encourage participation and “bridge building” initiatives.
Another council member Zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Anas Zubedy said it was important for the council to create “bridge builders”, including people or system processes that bring people together.
He said it was important for all of society to play a role in unity efforts so that the negative action by a few would be diluted by the good most people promote.
Another council member Lim Chee Wee said the hostile discourse on race and religion over the past few years required the participation of as many people as possible to reduce the tension.
“The biggest challenge is to reach a consensus on steps that would be effective for achieving national unity while the ultimate test is whether the Government and people will accept and carry them into effect,” added the former Bar Council chairman.
NGOs: Consultative council should be more open
PETALING JAYA: NGOs want the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) to be allowed to be more open and transparent in its approach.
Global Movement of Moderates Foundation chief executive officer Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the council needed to be more open and transparent if it wanted to get the public to buy in to their efforts.
Saifuddin, who is also a council member, said the council must also start with moving from race-based policies to needs-based policies.
“Proposals for unity goals must be based on this,” he said, adding that the council must be bold in taking on issues relating to equality in citizenship and good governance.
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism president Sardar Jagir Singh said the council should be more open except for sensitive issues, where they could get the stakeholders to attend the closed-door meetings to provide feedback.
Jagir, who is also a council member, said its objectives were noble and if its efforts were to be carried out properly, it would bring about more harmonious living and greater peace.
Jaringan Melayu Malaysia president Azwanddin Hamzah welcomed the setting up of the council.
He said the council must engage NGOs as well, so that it could be effective.
“The disunity that has seeped into society has to be taken seriously and addressed. We need to educate the young to respect one another,” he said.
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