PUTRAJAYA, 21 March 2025 – Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, Minister of National Unity, extended his greetings on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, emphasizing that the occasion is not merely a commemoration but also a symbol of a steadfast commitment at both global and national levels to eradicate racism, racial discrimination, racially motivated insults, and prejudices that could threaten societal harmony.
In his statement, he stressed that managing issues and challenges related to unity requires continuous approaches and initiatives to ensure social harmony remains intact. According to the 2022 National Unity Index (IPNas) study, the national unity score stood at 0.629, indicating a moderate and manageable level. However, he highlighted 10 social deficits that warrant attention: ethnicity, religion, social class, education, language, generational gap, gender, federalism politics, media, and the urban-rural divide.
“Understanding the issues and challenges of unity or social deficits is crucial to prepare all parties to face various possibilities that could spark unrest and undermine unity,” said Datuk Aaron.
He further asserted that discrimination in any form should not exist in Malaysian society, as it could damage the foundation of unity built over the years. “I urge all parties to collectively reject prejudiced attitudes, negative stereotypes, and any form of injustice based on race or religion,” he added.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed annually on 21 March, serves as a reminder to all to continuously strengthen unity and harmony among Malaysia’s diverse racial and religious communities.
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