KUCHING: Socio-political unity has to be constantly promoted and maintained as it will not happen automatically. This truth, which forms part of the country’s building foundation, was reiterated yesterday.
Why? To get the point across and reinforce it in the hearts and minds of the people, especially the younger generation, said the Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister.
“It needs to be consciously nurtured among the younger generation so that the value remains with them throughout their lives.
“I believe that we are doing the right by making a conscious effort to unite people of different races, religious backgrounds, and belief systems,” she said.
She was officiating at Keluarga Malaysia Unity Programme, which was part of the 2021 Diwali Celebration for Kuching Division, at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Hall yesterday (Oct 29).
She said this programme was a conscious effort to bring together people from various ethnic groups and religions.
She said that when people of various backgrounds come together during such a programme, they get to know each other better and gain deep knowledge of one another’s cultures and traditions.
“Today, we can feel the joy, intimacy, loyal friendship, mutual respect, and love, and this is what we want to achieve through this programme. This is because we are one Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family),” said Fatimah.
She hoped that this programme would be a signature programme of the State Unity Action Committee (JKTPN), especially during Diwali and other festivities later on.
She also hoped that at the early-education level, teachers and school operators would implement such a programme on small scales or in other forms so that children in Sarawak could learn about racial diversity.
“In this way, they can learn about people with different ways of life, belief systems, and cultures. It is our duty as elders to make sure that our children understand this – the cultures and customs of various races,” she said.
With this, she said mutual respect, acceptance, harmony, and unity could be nurtured and preserved.
“It has to be done because this is the basis of Sarawak’s progress. We would never progress or become a developed state if there is no respect among multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multireligious groups in Sarawak,” she said.
Fatimah emphasised that the concept of Keluarga Malaysia must be embraced, including its values of togetherness, unity, and gratitude, so that no community would feel marginalised.
Regarding the JKTPN, she chairs the committee whose members are sufficiently multi-ethnic to discuss the state’s unity agenda.
“This agenda is very important. We cannot be complacent, especially in this social media age, when things posted online could sometimes be misunderstood.
“There is this risk where the seeds of fragmentation can occur if a mistake is made or if there is a mistake in terms of perception. So there must be a conscious and organised effort to ensure unity among us,” she said.
She also wished the Indian community a Happy Deepavali, which falls on Nov 4.
“May the Festival of Lights bring prosperity, good health, and unity to your families as well as to families of Sarawak,” said Fatimah.
