By Sandra Segaran Arumugam
When Malaysia is mentioned, the first thought that comes to our mind is the unity among its plural societies.
Malaysia is known as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, tolerant, and harmonious country, where unity prevails, and this is the beauty of the nation. However, in recent years, the unity among the races has been deteriorating, and it has worsened since the last election.
The current situation in the country is dividing along religious and ethnic lines, which is an unacceptable situation and must be looked at as a serious issue.
This is a setback for Malaysia as a developing nation. Every citizen cannot deny this and must agree with it. We should also keep in mind that it is the responsibility of every Malaysian citizen, as it is a matter of great importance for all.
Why has this sudden change happened among the people of Malaysia? What is the reason behind it? Why has there been a sudden rise in issues between the races? After the 1963 ethnic riots, which took many lives, that incident taught Malaysians the importance of unity among multi-societies. Since then, efforts have been made to strengthen national unity and foster goodwill across all ethnicities and religious affiliations.
They took this as a lesson and have been moving forward carefully in handling such matters until today and into the future. But why have issues among races and religions suddenly raised questions among the public and political leaders? As political leaders, they should understand the importance of unity and tolerance among multicultural societies, but the opposite seems to be happening here.
Looking at the situation, political instability plays a key role. The collaboration between the ruling coalition and the opposition is one of the main reasons for this issue. The only solution is to hold an immediate election, but first, a strong government must be formed. Only a strong government can restore the relationships between the communities that have developed in the country, and this is what I believe.
We must acknowledge that many countries have collapsed due to a lack of unity within the nation. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar must take immediate action on this matter, which is something that must be closely observed.
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