KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — In order to advance as a nation, Malaysians must change their mindset from merely ‘tolerating’ racial differences to truly embracing them, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz said.

In her column published today by Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, the former minister of International Trade and Industry stressed a fresh mindset was needed in order to avoid conflicts and scuffles between the country’s ethnic communities.

“In short, we must shift from only tolerating or being patient with the diversity and differences between us… we should not think that those who are different from us are not right,” she wrote.

Rafidah said that Malaysians should not be weakened by the behaviour of some people in society who stoke conflict and tension, and that this will serve as a distraction from more pressing issues affecting the country.

The issues, according to the former Wanita Umno chief are increasing drug use and social decay among students and the inability of youths in the country to master the English language.

“There is a polemic, arguments have been put forth by many people from many sides, each formulating an opinion that only they are right, and that those who disagree are not only wrong but action should also be taken against them,” she added, saying that the inability to accept diversity and difference will ultimately Malaysia from moving forward.

“We should hold to the adage of ‘together we stand, divided we fall’,” the Umno leader stressed.

A recent survey by the Pew Research Centre found that nearly one-third of Malaysians see religious and ethnic hatred as posing the greatest danger to the world.

The Washington-based research group’s Greatest Dangers in the World survey released last month showed 32 per cent of Malaysians who cited religious and ethnic hatred as the biggest global threat today.

In contrast, 22 per cent Malaysians surveyed pointed to nuclear weapons, 16 per cent said environmental damage, 13 per cent cited increasing income inequality and 12 per cent highlighted AIDS and other diseases as major global threats.

Racial and religious tension have continued to simmer in Malaysia the past few months, with at least three people being charged with sedition for “insulting” Islam or the royalty.