Putrajaya appoints PAS MP to national unity council

A PAS lawmaker, who has been instrumental in organising inter-faith dialogue with Christians, has been appointed to Putrajaya’s National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC).

Parit Buntar MP and PAS central executive committee member Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa’s (pic) appointment to the NUCC, which Putrajaya hoped will help address and find solutions to some of the inter-racial unity issues, was announced during a launch by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Besides Mujahid's inclusion in the NUCC, the other 26 members include former deputy Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, former Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee, activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, Employees Provident Fund chairman Tan Sri Samsudin Osman and Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

The NUCC comes in the aftermath of the 13th general election, where national unity among Malaysians was put to the test several times when issues arose, which affected the sensitivities of various communities in the country.

The issues include the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims, students forced to eat in the shower-cum-locker room at a primary school during Ramadan and the slaughter of cows in national schools, which had angered Hindus.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who heads the National Integration and Unity Department, said the NUCC will seek feedback and opinion from the various local communities on national unity and integration.

Kurup said the findings will be presented to the government in a blueprint by the NUCC.

Najib said the findings recommended by the NUCC would be discussed by the Cabinet, which will decide whether to implement the blueprint’s recommendation.

"The focus and responsibilities of the NUCC is related to efforts to promote national unity and harmony. Discussions about national unity should be behind closed doors and not openly to preserve national peace and harmony," Najib stressed.

"The NUCC has an objective, to gather together in a private room and discuss, not in a populist manner but it must be sincere. To preserve harmony in Malaysia, discussions must be done in a rational manner," he added.

Besides that, Najib also outlined seven guidelines regarding the preparation of the NUCC blueprint, among which it must take into account the New Economic Model (NEM) aspect and to take into consideration the sensitivities of all ethnic groups in Malaysia during execution.

"The New Economic Model must be included in the blueprint as we have to ensure that wealth is shared in an inclusive, fair and unbiased manner. The blueprint must not hurt the feelings of any ethnic groups when it is implemented," he said.