This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on October 2, 2017 - October 8, 2017

In conjunction with this year’s Malaysia Day celebration, Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE) held a round-table discussion on Sept 13 to launch its latest initiative — the Centre for Nation Building Studies.

Two major factors formed the background to the establishment of the centre. The first is the need to strengthen national unity and integration, and further the efforts in building a genuine Malaysian nation. The second is the need to replace the existing political model or configuration — which is based on the politics of race that inhibits real change towards realising a Malaysian nation — with a new and better model.

The centre’s aim is to formulate and improve policies and programmes that facilitate and assist in the enhancement of unity among the people so that they can truly co-exist peacefully and harmoniously.

The centre’s objectives are to:

• Study and improve the education, exposure and experience of intra/inter-racial/religious interaction and understanding among Malaysians;

• Provide platforms for the sharing of ideas, consultation and reconciliation;

• Propose new policies and programmes;

• Develop a multiracial and moderate political thought; and

• Promote the practice of politics that depolitises race and fosters cross race/religious politics.

The aim and objectives will be carried out through various programmes under three components: research, sharing and community empowerment.

The round-table discussion was aimed at setting the centre’s direction. It featured IDE chairman Prof Datuk Dr Siddiq Fadzil as keynote speaker; the centre’s committee members Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, Dr Maszlee Malek, Tricia Yeoh and Eddin Khoo as commentators; and myself (the centre’s chairman) as moderator. IDE director Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar delivered the opening remarks while IDE CEO Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Redzuan Othman officiated at the launch.

The theme of the discussion, which is also the centre’s motto, was “Diversity within a Unity Framework”. This was borrowed from the title of a book authored by Siddiq last year called Nation Building: Diversity within a Unity Framework.

Siddiq began his keynote by confessing that he was frustrated, that even though Malaysia had been a federation for more than half a century, we had not yet established a nation in the real sense of the word. In this regard, he quoted from Rustam Sani’s 2008 book, Failed Nation? Concerns of a Malaysian Nationalist, on political events in Malaysia — “the last few years have convinced me that Malaysia is just a state without a nation — or at least a state with several competing nations”.

Siddiq also lamented that, perhaps, the most we have achieved thus far is a “divided nation”. Here, he was referring to Dr Johan Saravanamuttu’s 2016 book, Power Sharing in a Divided Nation.

According to Siddiq, racism is still embraced by some and will surface at certain times. Our achievement is only at the level of “mediated communalism”, that is, moderating attitudes and bridging differences, but we have yet to fully realise the level of a truly “Malaysian nation”.

He called on Muslims to be more open-minded, accommodative, positive and realistic. He reminded them that diversity is not something bad but rather a conferment, which, if used wisely, would become a strength. The problem is, there are still those who cannot accept the fact that Malaysia is multiracial and multi-religious and still dream of a Malay government.

Siddiq proposed that we formulate a new political fiqh (jurisprudence or thought) and give a fresh and practical interpretation to the following:

• All Malaysians are recognised as brothers/sisters of “full citizenship”;

• The term “ummah” (society) includes a “Malaysian ummah” and is not limited to a “Muslim ummah”; and

• The term “ukhuwah” (brotherhood) includes brotherhood in citizenship and humanity and is not limited to Islamic brotherhood.

He concluded by stating that Islam can play a very important role in actualising the Malaysian nation, that is, through the approach of “diversity within a unity framework”. He proposed that we should foster greater understanding through more inter-racial and inter-religious dialogues. This should be conducted by using existing frameworks, for example, the Federal Constitution, Rukun Negara, the 

National Education Philosophy and the national language.

As a follow-up to the launch of the centre, two other roundtable discussions will be held to kick-start its actual work. The The first, entitled Fiqh of Peaceful Coexistence, was held on Sept 27. Abdul Halim Ismail, who presented the keynote address, was appointed head of the research team with Siddiq as the adviser.

The second, called Multiracial and Moderate Political Thought, will be held on Oct 5. It will feature Johan and 

Dr Ooi Kee Beng as keynote speakers and the centre’s committee members, Prof Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin, Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusuf Rawa, Dr Ong Kian Ming and Maszlee,  together with Datuk Dr Rais Hussin and Dr Helen Ting Mu Hung, as commentators.

Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah is chief secretary of Pakatan Harapan and director (strategic and social development) of Institut Darul Ehsan. He is active on Twitter: @safuddinabd.

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