‘Hold unity programmes at schools’
The organising of Unity Day at school can be the best platform to boost unity among students as well as improve understanding among races and religions, said K. Saraswathy.

The Deputy National Unity Minister said the organisation of the Unity Day at schools was the best way to foster this spirit in Malaysia.

She pointed out that it involved the cooperation of students of various races, especially in making a performance a success.

“A programme like this is very important in strengthening the bonds between all levels of society in this country,” she said at the 2024 Unity Day celebration at Wesley Methodist International School in Kuala Lumpur.

At the event, about 200 students of various races performed a “unity dance” that displayed the ethnic diversity in the country that included Malays, Chinese, Indians, and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

Also present at the event were Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, New Straits Times Press (NSTP) group managing editor Datuk Ahmad Zaini Kamaruzzaman and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Board of Governors chairman Datuk Dr Anwar Ridhwan.

Wong, who has participated in the Unity Day celebration at the school for four years, expressed hope that a similar programme could be organised in all schools nationwide every year, reported Bernama.

“It would be good if the Education Ministry and the National Unity Ministry could suggest that a programme like this be carried out in all schools across the country according to the module created by Wesley School,” he told reporters after the celebration.

Wong said for media practitioners, the Maaf Zahir Batin Hari-hari #MZB365 movement had been initiated by the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) and the media in the country to promote the spirit of unity among the community.

Ahmad Zaini said NSTP was ready to support any school that wished to organise such a programme to foster unity among people of various races.

“As a media practitioner like Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, we take the same initiative to help the ministry in fostering unity, this is a good effort and needs to be supported,” he said.

Bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia Dr T. Jeyakumar said a similar unity programme would be organised in all Methodist schools in the future, taking into account the importance of unity among school students.

“Looking at the lively celebration and the enthusiastic faces of the students here, I know without a doubt that there is a strong spirit of unity among them as they performed the dances of other races with all their hearts,” he said.

At the event, Saraswathy also launched the poetry anthology book Jom Membina, Jangan Membinasa featuring poems by 69 students and 33 teachers of Wesley Methodist International School as well as by 11 national poets.
The organising of Unity Day at school can be the best platform to boost unity among students as well as improve understanding among races and religions, said K. Saraswathy.