KOTA KINABALU: 1 Malaysia Foundation trustee Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has called for the setting up of Unity Squad in every district throughout the country to mobilise all Malaysians regardless of race to build bridges of understanding and unity and put a halt to all forms of hate campaigns which can lead to racial conflict and disunity in our multi-racial nation.
He said the setting up of such unity squads is in line with the objective of fostering greater networking, harmony and unity among all Malaysians at the grassroot level.
“Malaysians must take on the responsibility of building and reinforcing unity as a people’s initiative as ultimately it is the people who will decide the destiny of this Nation.
“If politicians have not succeeded in building and reinforcing unity it should be the people’s initiative to do so as unity building goes beyond politics and politicians,” he said in a statement yesterday.
According to Lee, racial harmony, inter and intra-racial unity, which is crucial for our multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-racial nation, are all about people and what they can and should do for the unity of the country.
He said that too much emphasis has been given so far to the role of politics and politicians to ensure harmony among the diverse races. And many a times Malaysians are disappointed and even disenchanted when certain politicians play the race card to gain popularity.
What is even more disturbing is the emergence of race-based politics and the playing up of racial issues unashamedly by some without realizing the consequences of their actions, he said.
Lee said that it is now time for the people to innovate and take initiatives to break any racial divide that exists and go beyond politics to strive towards unity.
To prevent Malaysians from drifting apart and to heal a divided nation, he said it is the people of all races who must be concerned about the future of our nation and be prepared to integrate beginning from a young age.
“The most urgent task of all Malaysians irrespective of race, religion and political affiliation is to ensure racial and religious harmony and reject all forms of extremism which can undermine inter-racial and inter-religious peace and harmony.
“This is the time for all level-headed patriotic Malaysians to stand up and be counted in furthering the cause of a united Malaysian nation.
“This is not the time for anyone to make incendiary statements which are provocative and can lead to conflict and tension with serious consequences affecting peace, harmony and national unity,” he said.
As responsible and patriotic Malaysians, he said it is our profound duty to work for peace, harmony and unity and refrain from acts of provocation, violence and hatred which will result in conflict and chaos.
Lee reemphasized that in the final analysis it is the ordinary Malaysians regardless of race who will be our nation’s unsung heroes to unite Malaysia and reject the voices of extremism, hate and bigotry.