Ethnic relations should be managed properly: analyst

(Bernama) — Malaysia should manage its ethnic relations effectively to ensure continuous racial harmony in the country, said political analyst Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.

The anthropology and sociology lecturer at the Centre of Social Science Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), said relations among the ethnic groups must be properly managed and maintained.

“We have yet to reach a good level of ethnic relations management because our socialisation process is still clouded by racial or ethnic interests.”

Sivamurugan said this in his working paper titled “Unity from the Perspective of the Federal Constitution” presented at a seminar at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial, here, today.

The seminar, organised by the National Archives, is aimed at creating deeper understanding of the provisions of the Federal Constitution and to disseminate it to the public, especially the young generation.

Sivamurugan said racial politics which had become more intense had sidelined politics of moderation and this could jeopardise everything that the government had done all this while for the good of the country and people.

“Racial politics is still thick. We should not be too defensive of our own race to the extent of ignoring the interests of the other races.

“The people should not be prejudiced of what is contained in the Federal Constitution, but to defend it because without the constitution, the country would not have achieved its independence,” he said.