Kota Kinabalu: National development should no longer be measured solely by economic growth or infrastructure, but by whether people live with dignity, trust one another, respect diversity and work for the common good, said National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
Officiating the Roundtable Discussion on “Multi-Faith Partnership in Praxis for Human Dignity and Flourishing” at The Pacific Sutera Hotel, Tuesday, he said:“The world is facing unprecedented challenges, including armed conflicts, climate change, widening inequality, rapid technological disruption, misinformation and hate speech.
“While these issues present significant challenges, the greatest threat facing societies today is not technological but moral.”Aaron said Malaysia is uniquely positioned to redefine the meaning of development by drawing upon the country’s rich religious and moral traditions, adding that diversity should be regarded as a source of strength rather than a barrier to progress.
He noted that the Federal Constitution recognises Islam as the religion of the Federation while guaranteeing the freedom of other religions to be practised in peace and harmony, providing a balanced framework for Malaysia’s multicultural society.
He said this constitutional balance has enabled people of different faiths to coexist while preserving their respective religious identities and cultural traditions.
Aaron stressed that genuine multi-faith partnership extends beyond religious tolerance and requires people of different faiths to work together in addressing common challenges facing society.
He said religious organisations across Malaysia have demonstrated this spirit through humanitarian assistance, food aid programmes, blood donation campaigns, education initiatives, welfare services and interfaith dialogues that strengthen mutual understanding.
During times of crisis such as floods and other hardships, he said faith-based organisations have consistently stood shoulder to shoulder in serving affected communities regardless of religious background.
Recognising the importance of institutionalising such cooperation, the National Unity Ministry has introduced the Harmony Madani Initiative in 2024 as a continuous national effort to strengthen interfaith engagement.
He said the initiative includes Harmony Dialogues, Harmony Trails, Harmony Documentaries, nationwide social media campaigns and World Interfaith Harmony Week, all aimed at creating safe spaces for meaningful engagement and encouraging visits to places of worship.
Aaron said the Harmony Madani Initiative is guided by four core values, namely Understand, Respect, Accept and Celebrate, which encourage Malaysians to listen before judging, appreciate differences, embrace diversity and celebrate it as part of the nation’s shared identity.
These values are consistent with the universal teachings found across the world’s major religions and support Malaysia’s aspiration of building a united and inclusive society.
Aaron also highlighted the continued relevance of the Rukun Negara, describing it as the nation’s moral compass that promotes unity, democracy, justice, cultural preservation and progressive nation-building.
Aaron also launched two publications aimed at promoting greater understanding and harmony in Malaysia’s multicultural society during the opening ceremony.
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