The Sabah Umno treasurer said that similarly, unity does not mean everyone needs to think alike, but that they share common goals despite taking different paths to achieve them.

“Some believe that a country can only be stable if everyone supports the same party or shares the same views. In truth, stability is built when we are able to manage differences calmly and with mutual respect.

“Stability doesn’t mean the absence of conflict – it means having a fair system to resolve disagreements peacefully,” he said in a Facebook post.

Salleh said many countries had thrived despite comprising people of various ethnicities, religions, and political beliefs. In these cases, he said, the people focussed on what united them rather than the things that divided them.

He added that some countries restricted the freedom of their people and thus appeared “peaceful”. However, he said that stability built on pressuring and silencing the people was fragile.

“Unity is built when we are willing to listen, respect differing views, and seek common ground for the greater good.

“As the proverb goes, ‘A bundle of bamboo is stronger than a single stalk’. Though we may come from different backgrounds, when we unite and support one another, we become stronger and more resilient,” said the Usukan assemblyman.