Building bridges, dismantling walls

Merdeka day celebration at Dataran Merdeka. — Filepic

THERE are no quick-fix solutions. The causes of disunity are many and the cures must tackle a whole range of swirling, divisive forces, some of which are believed to be gaining strength.

Among them are unhelpful historical narratives; inter-ethnic as well as intra-ethnic economic inequalities; identity politics; inadequate laws and poor enforcement of constitutional safeguards; educational policies that divide instead of unite; and religious, racial, and regional organisations that believe in homogeneity, forced assimilation and exclusiveness.