Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Plan to enhance racial integration launched
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/13/nation/17716227&sec=nation
KUALA TERENGGANU: Reducing racial segregation and inter- as well as intra-racial tension are among the five main objectives of the National Unity and Integration Plan 2006-2010.
The plan, which draws up the steps to be taken for the next five years to enhance racial integration in the country, was launched by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin here yesterday.
The plan was launched in conjunction with national-level Unity Month celebrations at Batu Burok.
Among the other objectives of the plan are to boost the spirit of unity and patriotism among Malaysians and to increase the level of tolerance and harmony among the various ethnic groups in the country.
The plan, which was approved by the Cabinet on May 17 last year, was drawn up in the hope of further strengthening racial unity and creating a sense of belonging in this country, as well as a feeling of being proud to be Malaysian.
The plan outlined 19 strategies which government agencies and statutory bodies were supposed to implement.
The agencies were to foster close racial relations by applying principles like mutual understanding and to carry out steps like monitoring of current affairs or conflicts and gauging of the impact of unity.
The private sector, non-governmental organisations and the public are to be roped in.
The plan also sought to promote a national identity through a quality education system and to boost the people’s understanding of the Rukunegara and the Federal Constitution.
The plan said one of the challenges faced was that integration among the various ethnic groups in the country was still at a “functional level”.
It said there was only integration among working peers while sincerity, a caring attitude, honesty and understanding of one racial group towards another was still not achieved.
On the Bangsa Malaysia concept, the plan stated that the definition was still unclear and had yet to be discerned by society.
During the event yesterday, former foreign affairs minister Tun Dr Muhammad Ghazali Shafie, former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Peter Lo Su Yin, and previous Sarawak Dayak National Union vice-president Datuk Seri Tra Zehnder @ Philomena Tra ak Jemat received the first “Generators of Unity in Malaysia” awards.
We are actually like to know more details about the plan such as the strategies taken by government to achieve national unity.
kindly to provide more information?
thanks..