Najib Razak, in a written parliamentary reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), said the government believed efforts to unite the different races in Malaysia should be done through education and not laws.
“The government will not use laws arbitrarily to unite the races. The community needs to be educated from young,” he said.
Najib said the level of the country’s unity was still good and under control.
“If necessary, the existing laws could be used to curb racism and discrimination,” he added.
Najib said the measures taken to foster unity included convincing politicians and society to avoid polarising issues relating to religion and ethnicity.
“Firm actions are taken against those who disrupt national unity, whenever the need arises.”
He said the government also took steps to uphold the constitution and Rukunegara, implement public policies and programmes that were fair and balanced to eradicate poverty, and encourage interaction, integration and understanding among different races at work, education and residential areas.
Formal and non-formal mechanisms were also put in place to encourage cultural and religious bodies to communicate, exchange ideas and reach an understanding on issues that might arise.