Undeterred by the strong opposition from Malay and Muslim groups in the peninsula, newly-formed civil society movement Negara-Ku is spreading its wings to East Malaysia.
Undeterred by the strong opposition from Malay and Muslim groups in the peninsula, newly-formed civil society movement Negara-Ku is spreading its wings to East Malaysia.
They will take their message of unity and hope to Sabah and Sarawak where they also hope to tell East Malaysians what the Malaysia Agreement was intended to do for them.
Negara-Ku, a coalition of NGOs launched two weeks ago, had roped in former vice-chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), Tan Sri Simon Sipaun (pic), as one of its patrons to achieve its objective of peace and unity.
“One of our deepest wishes is for our brothers and sisters who reside on the other side of the South China Sea to realise all that was intended for Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement.
“Together we can work towards bringing about justice they so dearly need and which we so dearly want for them.
“Our efforts in taking the message of unity and hope to Sabah and Sarawak will begin after the Hari Raya holidays,” said Negara-Ku chairman Zaid Kamaruddin at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
He said it has always been their plan to reach out to Sabah and Sarawak to learn from the two states about diversity and unity.
This is in line with Negara-Ku’s charter which strives for an inclusive society and rejects all forms of extremism, intolerance and bigotry.
Non-confrontational in nature, one of Negara-Ku’s main aims is to build a peaceful and prosperous nation within the framework of the Federal Constitution, the Malaysia agreement and the Rukun Negara.
Zaid believed the majority of Malaysians share Negara-Ku ideals but for far too long they have remained silent and this gave a few divisive voices to dominate the public sphere.
“Each of us must therefore do our part to take back this space. It is important that as each of us reaches out to spread the message of the Negara-Ku initiative, we know that we are not alone,” he said.
Negara-Ku committee member Haris Ibrahim said there is much to learn from the East Malaysians especially on the way they embrace diversity.
“But they can also learn from our experiences here in Peninsular Malaysia so that what is happening here is not spread there,” he said in inferring to the racial religious tensions.
With Hari Raya celebrations starting next week, Zaid urged Malaysians who are returning to their hometowns to spread the Negara-Ku message of peace.
This can be done by downloading and printing the movement’s charter as well as downloading the two Negara-Ku videos on DVDs to distribute to families and friends.
“This is the time we spend with families, so it is a nice time to send a positive message of hope,” Zaid said.