KUCHING: The people have been urged to refrain from actions that could incite racial polemics and undermine the sensitivities of the multiethnic society.
National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said as responsible Malaysians, it is the duty of everyone to uphold the nation’s prevailing peace and harmony.
“The people must avoid provocative acts and violence that may lead to conflict and turmoil,” he said in a statement today.
Despite the Ministry of National Unity (KPN) not having specific powers such to take legal actions, he pointed out that the ministry through the Department of National Unity and National Integration (JPNIN), plays a crucial role in managing unity issues.
“Due to the absence of enforcement powers, this ministry focuses on monitoring unity issues and implementing intervention programmes in high-risk areas to enhance interaction and integration among people of different races and religions,” he said.
He said when issues or polemics related to race, religion, and royalty (3R) arise, it is not that the KPN is not involved, but it does not have enforcement powers.
“Therefore, only the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Communications have the authority to take action against offenders through the Sedition Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act, Police Act, Penal Code, and the Communications and Multimedia Act.
“I believe that the solidarity and unity of the Malaysian people will be the main fortress in addressing threats to national unity and harmony.
“The security and unity of the nation are shared responsibilities that must be borne by all of us,” he said.
Meanwhile, among the mechanisms for managing unity issues implemented by JPNIN are:
- Management and monitoring of unity issues at the grassroots level through the E-Sepakat System — an internal mechanism of JPNIN aimed at tracking, monitoring, and digitally reporting unity issues to replace manual methods. This information is also shared with strategic ministry partners such as the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the National Security Council (MKN), and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
- Unity analytics dashboard — supporting the E-Sepakat system in further enhancing the efficiency of community harmony management through mapping high-risk and hot-spot areas capable of disrupting harmony among races and religions.
- Community mediators as community peacemakers — focusing on managing community disputes, especially those involving neighbouring communities. Their service scope is subject to issues causing tension between residential neighbourhoods, villages, or strata areas. Among the successfully handled cases by the community mediators are disputes between neighbours, noise disturbances, harassment, littering, parking issues, stray animals, disputes related to common property, and others. The ministry has 562 certified and trained Community Mediators ready to provide free services to the community.
- Interfaith harmony committees (JK HARMONI) — a committee comprising leaders of various religions in Malaysia with the aim of strengthening good relations among leaders and followers of various religions based on the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation at all levels. This committee also helps resolve conflicts or misunderstandings related to religious issues through intervention and mediation methods.
