PETALING JAYA, Aug 26 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup called on voices of moderation to speak up on hot button issues, as “racial and religious bigotries” have crowded headlines lately.
Kurup appealed to the public to not allow the current state of affairs to affect the future of the country.
“Moderation has, generally, been in the DNA of the people in Malaysia because as a country, inside us, we are mostly moderate and inclusive,” said Kurup, at the launch of the annual #saysomethingnice 2014 campaign here.
“Under the circumstances we are in today, we need to bring forward the voices of the moderate; the inclusive, to help them stand up and be counted,” he said.
The minister in charge of national unity added that the way to tackle “bigoted” personalities were to counter them using “ways of the past”.
“We had problems in the past but we managed to resolve it amicably,” said Kurup, encouraging every Malaysian to offer “little sacrifices” by being “grounded in dealing with emotions”.
“It is alright to have differences but don’t let differences divide us. Let it, instead be the strength that moves us forward,” he reiterated.
Kurup also said that the National Unity Blueprint — which is being formulated by the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) — will be expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Verbal sparring by politicians and several right-winged grassroots movement have dominated headlines over the past year lending rise to race and religious tension.
