Kuala Lumpur: The Ministry of National Unity will utilize the findings from the Architects of Diversity (AOD) Malaysia’s ‘State of Discrimination Survey 2023’ as an early warning system to enhance efforts towards unifying Malaysians. National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang emphasized that the ministry will concentrate on four fundamental strategies to achieve national unity: the Unity Ecosystem, MADANI Harmony Initiative, Rukun Tetangga, and Socio-Cultural Community. These strategies form the cornerstone of the ministry’s direction this year in fostering communal harmony.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Aaron stated that these initiatives will be communicated across various platforms by respective agencies, reinforcing the message that “Unity Is A Shared Responsibility.” The minister expressed hope that this synergy will solidify unity and harmony in Malaysia, while simultaneously mitigating discrimination within society. He conveyed these insights while concluding the debate on the royal address on behalf of the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The survey conducted by AOD, a non-governmental organization founded by volunteers, revealed that 64 percent of the 3,283 respondents encountered discrimination related to factors such as economic status, age, ethnicity, skin color, culture, tradition, and mother tongue or accent. Aaron highlighted that through the MADANI Malaysia Unity Campaign, the ministry has activated community-focused initiatives structured around three primary program clusters: Semarak Kenegaraan, Semarak Perpaduan, and Komuniti Rahmah.

Implemented activities include Jejak Harmoni, World Tolerance Day, World Interfaith Harmony Week, as well as talks, dialogues, and Discourse on Fostering Unity in Religious Diversity. These efforts aim to promote understanding and reduce societal discrimination, thereby enhancing national cohesion.