Are we a united and harmonious nation?
I wonder about this whenever I am in a crowded place. I have observed how united we are in some ways and “disjointed” at other times, which means there are cliques among us who prefer to mix with their “own kind”.
These are the groups that can drive a wedge in society with their ignorance and skewed perception.
We cannot run away from this. There will always be irresponsible people or groups, who will try to hijack the harmony and unity of Malaysians.
What we can do is make an effort to bridge the gap and try to bring Malaysians closer.
Have more respect for our fellow Malaysians, regardless of race, religion and background.
What the government is doing to achieve the 1Malaysia dream should be lauded.
Their initiatives are bearing fruit. For the most part, Malaysians are peace-loving, warm and friendly. Granted, there are bad apples, but I believe these are rare.
It certainly is not justified when some groups incite hatred and try to break us apart with news that is exaggerated, biased and unverified. These are the groups that we should avoid.
The unity of Malaysians is due to the effort of the government to maintain peace and order.
The concept of 1Malaysia, mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2009, should be the yardstick in our progress towards a developed country, in just a few more years.
Apart from that, to ensure we are living in harmony is to have a heightened sense of tolerance towards fellow Malaysians.
With tolerance, we can accept the differences that make us unique to each other, and only then can we live in harmony.
Just imagine what will happen when the spirit of togetherness is no longer promoted or is neglected? There will be disunity and Malaysians will be in conflict with one another.
That is why all of us, not only the government, have to continuously strive to preserve unity and harmony.
Siti Nor Shafawaty Che Mat Nor, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur