The new blueprint for promoting greater solidarity and unity among Malaysians is taking a wise approach and is well-timed.
Differences do not have to lead to division; a multiplicity of ethnic, religious, and cultural identities does not have to create rivalries.
In my view, which I believe is the experience of most Malaysians, we live in harmony though there are clearly defined cultural identities and values, because our natural state is one of camaraderie and fellowship.
The pandemic has demonstrated that Malaysians are capable of actualising a sense of national unity and shared responsibility for the common good, and our shared struggle over the past year has reduced both the relevance and resonance of previously emphasised social divides.
In a multi-ethnic, multi-racial democratic society, of course, the greatest danger is posed by those seeking to manipulate group feelings to carve out a niche in the political arena for personal career advancement.
They pit one group against another and prey upon fundamental human fears and concerns for basic rights, access to opportunity, share of resources, and material survival; activating identity affiliations as a tool for collective bargaining.
This tribalism is antithetical to the concept of citizenship upon which our nation is based, which is why it must be shunned, and its opposite promoted instead.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's visionary plan for cultivating national unity is precisely what we need at this moment.
Much has been made of the Prime Minister's earlier remark that he is "Malay first and Malaysian second", as though this acknowledgement implies a lack of commitment to the goals of the unity blueprint, and this deserves comment.
The stated theme of the policy is "Unity in Diversity", not "Unity through the erasure of group identity". We are a diverse people and our unique racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural identities are dear to us all; they make our society richer.
Developing a sense of national identity does not have to mean, and should not mean, abandoning every other aspect of one's self. Indeed, to demand such a denial of one's identity would be both illiberal and unrealistic.
Critics who regard Muhyiddin's statement as problematic, I would argue, are missing the point: it is precisely this statement which gives credence to his vision of unity.
The theory of intersectionality has particular relevance in Malaysia, where every citizen is at once many things and one thing; we are Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli, Iban, Kadazan, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, men and women; but we are also all Malaysian. No vision of unity can prevail that does not recognise this reality.
The National Unity Action Plan aims to increase the use of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language in all matters across the government and private sectors. This is a platform of unison that we can all get on board with.
It is in our Federal Constitution. At the same time, this move does not diminish or dismiss other languages, as the plan is also to encourage the learning of Chinese and Tamil languages across all education levels.
There are many points of the National Unity Action Plan that increase the recognition of each segment in society to bring greater appreciation to what it means to be Malaysian.
We are a nation of tribes, but that does not mean that we must be tribal; every identity must be respected without lapsing into group competition. We are bound together by citizenship, Malaysia is our common cause, and we each bring value derived from our unique histories, experiences, and perspectives.
I am reminded of the famous story in which the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), before the revelation of the Qur'an, resolved a dispute among the people of Makkah as to who would be allowed the honour of placing the black stone in the newly restored Ka'abah.
He advised that the stone be placed on a cloth, with four leaders lifting its corners together, thus sharing the privilege between them.
This is how I perceive the National Unity Policy; we are all being called upon to lift up Malaysia together, and it is an honour we must, and can, share.
The writer is founder, Centre for Human Rights Research & Advocacy (CENTHRA)
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times