National Unity can come in many forms. In simplicity, they are:

1) Unity through Racial Diversity:

Let us all reflect on the unity and harmony that kept us together, despite our varied races and cultures.

Emulate racial unity in Sarawak. They are a shining example and the perfect role model of racial unity, where different races mingle freely together. This is because not a single political party is dominant there. Every party has a role to play, no matter how small it is. This can be emulated by peninsular Malaysia. They will put the peninsular to shame on how to achieve racial unity. Natives enter kitchens of Chinese-owned shops and mingle freely with families.

2) Unity in Education:

Vernacular Education is not a hindrance or a threat to national unity. In fact, it gives children a chance to be trilingual to take on the competitive world.

They offer a unique and viable diversity to our nation's multiculturalism and multiethnicity.

Check racial polarisation in schools, whether national or vernacular. Implement unity programmes of yesteryears that united us all; they still stood the test of time.

3) Unity through mastering the National Language:

After 56 years of Merdeka and independence from the British colonial masters, there is no excuse for ordinary Malaysians of all races not to be fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, the national language. The English language may still be the international lingua fraca for doing business here, but the only way to real racial unity among the masses is through mastering Bahasa Malaysia, the national language.

4) Unity through Sports:

Sport is an unifying factor.

Sports is the answer to the racial and religious unity problems we are facing now.

Too much unsavoury words were said during each election campaign.

To unite a nation after each intensely fought general election, sports is the most effective and viable remedy to bring citizens of all political inclinations and races together, under a common platform.

When Malaysian cheer groups support our athletes at stadiums, ethnicity of athletes isn’t an issue. That’s the beauty of sports as an unifying factor.

National unity can also be harnessed by getting Malaysians to view the World Cup together in 24-hour restaurants, cheering their respective favourite teams in action.

Nothing beats the way Malaysians come together in stadiums to cheer for Harimau Malaya, their favourite EPL team, Lee Chong Wei, Azizulhasni Awang, Pandalela Rinong or Nicol David.

It was also in the 1970s when Mokhtar Dahari, Soh Chin Aun and R Arumugam played as a team. When a goal was scored in the rain-soaked Merdeka Stadium, fans of all races rejoiced.

Watching the nation winning the Thomas Cup Final in 1992 brought Malaysians of all races united together. The entire nation dropped their tools and rooted for Malaysia for six hours. It was such an important match of national interest and our nation beat as one.

5) Unity during Festivals:

Culture of Open Houses where we visit each other is encouraged.

Aren’t we glad that we are the only nation in the world with fireworks all year round,be it at Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Christmas or Deepavali? A true Muhibbah spirit indeed to show to the world.

Festive seasons bring a true message of unity and hope to ALL Malaysians. Whether we are Christians, Buddhists, Hindus or Muslims, we ALL celebrate together in peace and harmony. During festive seasons, all Malaysians can unite together and forget all differences that can lead to racial and religious conflicts.

6) Unity in Nation Building:

The recent Sept 18 Scottish referendum on whether the 300-year-old union with England stays or not was a lesson for us on nation-building. Don’t take unity for granted.

7) Unity through Consultations:

We must hold National Unity Conferences regularly among the races. They can only succeed if various parties, from top leaders to ordinary citizens, play their role to uphold unity.

8) Unity through Leadership by Example:

Lately, too many racial comments have been spewed by certain leaders which threaten racial harmony.

Political leaders can keep peace and harmony by not making seditious remarks against another race. Use the Sedition Act appropriately to probe any leader that incite words that can cause disunity.

Stiff action should be taken against anyone who incite racial hatred at public rallies, eg. by invoking the recently introduced Peaceful Assembly Act.

9) Unity in Civil Service:

Initiate campaign to recruit more youths of all races as police officers, to reflect the multi-racial composition of the nation.

10) Unity through Patriotism Spirit:

Malaysians can fly the Jalur Gemilang on every Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day with pride and patriotism. It gives a strong spirit of unity among all races towards nation-building.

11) Unity in National Mourning:

ALL Malaysians were ONE on day of mourning for MH17 victims, regardless of race and religion. We dropped all tools for one minute of silence wherever we were.

It was touching to see people from ALL walks of life, race, religion, age and political affiliations filing past late Karpal Singh's coffin. It showed that 1Malaysia was truly alive and well.

12) Unity through Learning from History:

The elder generation is more racially united because they tasted a bitter struggle since independence days. The younger generation can learn a lot from them.

13) Unity through iconic slogan:

The 1Malaysia logo or slogan is certainly not a political tool to promote the popularity of the government of the day, as alleged by certain quarters. Rather, it is only a useful tool devised as a means to unite our country’s people through an iconic binding philosophy. This all encompassing concept can be used to unite all races.

By incorporating the 1Malaysia logo on athletes’ T-shirts,it is hoped that our athletes will perform with renewed vigour and spirit on the international arena.

14) Unity through Learning from Neighbours:

When popular Jakarta mayor Jodo Widodo (Jokowi) became president after his opposition party PDI-P won parliamentary elections, his vice-mayor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), a Chinese Indonesian, took over as Jakarta mayor. Our neighbour nation has looked beyond racial lines.

15) Unity through Standardisation of Application Forms:

Race must be left out of government application forms. Only then can we become a truly homogeneous Malaysian race to become a developed country by 2020.

If we are sincerely moving towards a single Malaysian race, then ALL job, political party, university, college and NGO application forms shouldn’t have race or religion categories. Redesign the application forms to make them more ‘user-friendly’.

16) Unity through Abiding by the Law:

Only one law governs us ie. the federal constitution. Nothing else. Article 153 guarantees the rights of ALL Malaysians. We abide by it and nothing can go wrong.

Conclusion:

Let’s wake up to reality. Tools devised to unite Malaysians of all races can come in many forms, but they serve one purpose ie. to unite a fragile nation. These can succeed only if ALL have the right mindset, determination and willpower to implement it with full sincerity, with national interests at heart.

LEE HUI SENG is a member of the publicity bureau, Subang division of Selangor Gerakan.