PETALING JAYA: The issue of unity should be above politics, says a moderation advocate.
Hailing the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's call for the people to unite, Anas Zubedy said successive leaders and governments should continue their predecessors’ unity initiatives.
"New initiatives should always link back to what has been done in the past. For example, we had Wawasan 2020, Islam Hadhari, 1Malaysia, Keluarga Malaysia. It is important to show continuity.
“By showing that the current unity campaign is a continuation of past campaigns, we will bring together the past, present and the future and this will be way above politics, leaders or parties," he said.
Quoting Malaysia’s father of independence Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Anas said Malaysians must always remember that “our future depends on how well many different kinds of people can live and work together”.
Former diplomat Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin said that most right-thinking Malaysians would welcome the King’s call for national unity.
She said the rakyat were sick and tired of any divide and rule policy and politicians who cause racial strife by constantly condemning other races.
"Fortunately, our unity government is a multiracial one.
"I am optimistic that they will address the racial imbalances in the country and in the process, promote national unity among all our ethnic groups and turn the slogan, “Unity in Diversity,” into reality," she said.
MCA vice-president Senator Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah's call for national unity was timely.
"His Majesty's timely reminder of the need to work together, cultivate positive thoughts and practices towards becoming a united nation is apt.
“We should be proud that we have inherited a nation that practises tolerance and accommodation towards achieving unity in a multiracial, multicultural and multireligious society.
"This is what we have inherited since Merdeka, which was achieved following a lot of hard work from everyone.
"However, after 60 over years, some have forgotten that sacrifices need to be made by all parties to maintain this fruit of hard labour," he said.
Ti said the politics of one-upmanship practised by certain political parties was not helping to build national unity.
After two general elections following division and instability, he said many people realised that Malaysia was in dire need of unity.
"This is so that we can have political stability to win back investors' confidence and focus on nation-building and overcoming challenges ahead.
"We have wasted too much time picking on race and religion issues for the past two decades. It's high time we go back to our Merdeka spirit, where everyone is part of the country and we must work together."
Ti also warned about the recent political rhetoric fanning racial and religious sentiments brought on by certain political parties, saying the people must not be fooled by such tactics.
