Divisive politics in Malaysia is jeopardizing the unity of the country, according to political analysts.
Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar from the International Islamic University Malaysia stated that in order to achieve unity, politicians need to prioritize the welfare of the nation over creating divisions for their personal gain.
“There are instances of divisive politics in Malaysia.
Recently, there was a proposal for states with a different administration from the Federal Government to use a distinct logo and theme for the National Day celebration,” he mentioned.
He also added, “There have been calls for Sabah and Sarawak to secede from the federation. Moreover, there is a concerning prejudice among different ethnic groups, such as the belief that non-Malays are conspiring to take over the country.”
Tunku Mohar criticized politicians for not doing enough to foster unity among the people, and in some cases, being the reason behind such divisive politics.
He suggested that in addition to intensifying education and campaigns on the importance of unity in nation-building, action should be taken against those who promote divisive politics.
Dr Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, attributed the practice of divisive politics in Malaysia to the race-based system.
“The constitutional categorization of people into bumiputeras and non-bumiputeras is a prime example of such divisive politics. Unity should be actively instilled,” he stated.
Oh further argued that politicians need to ensure equal treatment for all citizens, so that people can truly comprehend the significance of unity.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
