Study needed before the implementation of national reconciliation

Detailed study is needed before the national reconciliation strategy, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday, could be adapted into the Malaysian society.

International Movement for a Just World President Dr Chandra Muzzafar said the study is crucial to understand the root cause of ethnic polarisation which swayed a significant amount of votes away from Barisan Nasional (BN).

“The idea of national reconciliation is a positive one. However, we first have to find out why a vast majority of one community wins on one side and why on another side, it’s a different story.

“The ethnic polarisation is reflected in today’s politics and to be able to understand it, we need some sort of mechanism such as a proper study or analysis,” he said.

Chandra also said that it is important to reaffirm our faith in the fundamentals upon which the nation is built.

“The fundamentals are provided in the Federal Constitution. It gives balance. For example respect everyone’s languages and religion. Give it meanings, put it into practice.

“What is needed at this stage is we should reflect on this challenge,” he said.

Having said so, Chandra said he does not think that the people are currently not united.

“Yes, there is a slight disunity but our election was violence free compared to other countries like South Korea.

“We need to address the slight disunity before it becomes worse,” he said.

Agreeing with Chandra is Historian Dr Khoo Kay Kim who said that there should be a proper study before the national reconciliation could be implemented.

“We cannot introduce national reconciliation without knowing what the problem is.

“Even the British had set up a community liaison but it failed because they did not conduct a proper study.

“In the early 1960s, when the Alliance party set up the Alliance Direct Membership Organisation (ADMO) it also failed because they did not conduct a study.

“There are various ways to conduct the national reconciliation study such as going to the grounds and talk to the people.

“Find out why they are not satisfied, what did the Opposition did to win. If not, it is going to be another Rukun Negara, an initiative that was never properly implemented and never explained,” he said.

The BN government will embark on a national reconciliation process as part of a move to heal the racial and political divisions that have sparked in the wake of the 13th general election.

Najib said that the voting pattern is disturbing because the extent of the swing against BN because the Chinese voted for one side and the Malays for another.

BN won 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats in the 13th general election, forming the government, while Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won 89 seats.