Deputy minister launches #KitaKawan campaign to foster greater unity

 

Deputy religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan (seated, second from left) with other representatives of various NGOs at the launch of the #KitaKawan campaign.

PUTRAJAYA: In the wake of the “Allah” socks controversy, deputy religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan today launched the #KitaKawan campaign aimed at fostering unity and harmony through dialogue and advocacy.

The launch was accompanied by a dialogue between various NGOs at the Islamic Complex here.

“Today, we heard several views of how we can foster greater unity. We heard various perspectives that we can raise to the higher-ups.

“We want harmony, so let’s put aside our differences,” Zulkifli told reporters after chairing the dialogue.

Among the NGOs that attended the event were the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim), Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs, and Friendship Group of Inter-Religious Services.

Zulkifli said the attendees agreed that dialogues were the way forward to foster unity and that periodical meetings were necessary to discuss current issues and measures to overcome it.

He said that today’s dialogue focused on the sale of the socks bearing the word “Allah” by KK Mart which has since seen three outlets attacked with petrol bombs and calls for the convenience store to be boycotted.

Zulkifli said while the authorities should be left to investigate the attacks, there was still a need for advocacy to instil awareness and understanding.

“There’s a need to work together to push the narrative on unity.” - FMT