KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) has proposed the creation of a national unity index to measure the country’s level of national unity on an annual basis.
Asli chief executive officer Tan Sri Dr Michael Yeoh said the idea should be discussed between academicians, politicians and non-governmental organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
“Asli hopes to promote the initiative at the one-day National Unity Forum carrying the theme ‘Strengthening the Voice of Moderates, Moving Forward Together’ scheduled for tomorrow,” he told a media conference here today.
To a question, Yeoh said the level of unity in the country was still strong.
This, he said, was reflected when Malaysians came together to show their collective sympathy on the day of national mourning recently to mark the loss of their brothers and sisters in the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane crash.
However, Yeoh noted that certain segments of society should refrain from making comments that could hurt the feelings of others.
Spewing statements of this nature could weaken unity among Malaysians, he said.
On the forum tomorrow, he said it would draw over 200 participants who would discuss topics including ‘Enhancing Religious Harmony and Understanding - The Way Forward’ and ‘Overcoming Impediments to Unity - What Can We Do At The Grassroots Level?’ --BERNAMA