…there are more factors and drivers that divides us rather than unite us…
by | Rushdi Abdul Rahim | rushdi@might.org.my
Greetings & Salutations,
It is my pleasure to bring you the latest edition of myForesight® magazine, our second one this year. If this is not your first exposure to us, you would have realized that for each particular edition we would have a thematic focus develop as a cover story as well as supplemental article. Therefore, when we set out to provide content focus for this particular edition, we want the theme to be future of national unity in Malaysia. Understanding the delicateness of the subject matter, we set out identifying related stakeholders that will provide the baseline content for the topic.
Therefore since the turn of the year, we have been engaging numerous youth groups; representing various interests to gauge their interest in talking about this subject. The initial intent was to bring these people together to create scenarios on Malaysia’s national unity. So we set about meeting them individually and the initial reaction to the subject matter was encouraging and many people were willing to voice their opinion and talk to us. Each of these individuals or groups provides us with their insights and opinions on what future of unity would be for Malaysia. Encourage by these development, we started to plan on having the group sessions. We wanted to create our very own Mount Fleur Scenarios moment.
This is where we start facing challenges. Amongst them are; though these people are willing to talk to us, they are unwilling to talk to another group of people for a variety of reasons. Then there are those who are willing to talk but under the condition of anonymity. A scenario session could not be organized under such conditions! But yet we were not disheartened, we tried to organize a session with the coalition of the willing. Understanding the pitfalls and challenges associated with it, we went ahead with the session.
However, even when we were able to organize a scenario session – we were confronted with the white elephant in the room; there are more factors and drivers that divide us rather than unite us. Rough waters ahead it seems, where it takes more effort to unite us than break us evidently. The session though isolated is not a waste. It provides myForesight® insights and the psyche of what drives a particular group on the issues of national unity.
Viewpoints from personalities such as Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah and Mr. Tan Yew Sing who are both members of the Malaysia’s National Unity Consultative Council are presented here. Certainly a compelling read and we also seeks a differing perspective in the form of a session with Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd. Nor Wan Daud.
Challenges confronted by the country in the future especially the youth and not limited to national unity. Our take on these challenges were presented during the National Youth Day Celebration in Putrajaya International Convention Center. The piece on these challenges are also presented here in this myForesight® edition and is supplemented by various fact sheets and articles.
By the time you are reading this, we would be at the of celebrating the coming of Syawal. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to wish the all our readers “Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri” & Happy Holidays.
As usual, we hope you find this magazine beneficial and thought provoking. We expect you to have your opinion on certain matters. We want to hear them if you are willing to share. We welcome your feedback and contributions.
