Goodwill breeds unity

I AM sad to read that after 51 years of Independence there is now a proposal to introduce a Race Relations Act to manage race relations in the country for the sake of racial harmony.

If I am asked for my frank personal opinion my answer is that it is pretty awkward for us to legislate on race relations in the country 51 years after independence.

It only goes to show that our efforts so far to strengthen race relations in our multiracial country have not been very successful and that our race relations is still very fragile.

This calls for thorough soul-searching on our part, in particular the Government, as to why race relations in our country has deteriorated instead of being advanced.

To a certain extent I share the view of Professor Emeritus Khoo Kay Kim that certain politicians €“ not all €“ who have their own agenda must be held responsible for this state of affair.

Their racial outbursts from time to time certainly created more divisiveness instead of unity among the people. There should be no place for racial prejudices and stereotypes in a multiracial society like ours.

I hope the Government will have a rethink about introducing legislation to govern race-relations in the country. But if it persists and decides to go ahead, it should then give time and provide space for feedback from all strata of Malaysian society.

The Government must never rush though any such legislation which has serious and far-reaching implications on the future of our country in terms of goodwill, harmony and unity.

I am of the view that instead of having a Race Relations Act, what we should instead consider a Race Relations Institute to contribute ideas and programme towards strengthening race relations in the country.

I have always maintained that it is inappropriate to legislate for the purpose of managing race relations to promote inter-racial harmony and unity.

It must always be borne in mind that goodwill, harmony and unity cannot be achieved through legislation.

Managing race relations must start with the individual. If there is goodwill, harmony and unity in a person’s thoughts, emotions and actions, it will be reflected in how he or she treats others.

Those who are concerned about race-relations and unity in our multiracial country should reflect on a comment made in November 2006 by the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin when he said that the most enduring way to establish good race relations is the need for Malaysians of different races and religions to “cultivate mutual understanding and genuine respect for each other”.

His very words “the recognition that we are all God’s creation and that each deserves to be treated with dignity” is most fundamental and appropriate.