KUALA LUMPUR: Personal interests, political differences and growing hostilities can lead to disunity among members of the Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family), says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       The Prime Minister said politics should be a platform of unification but due to political differences, it could also be a cause for separation.

       He said this was a huge challenge that needed to be tackled, not only by leaders but also by all members of the Malaysian Family so as to assure long-term stability in the country.

       “If the country is (politically) unstable, certain quarters, either domestic or foreign, will try to take advantage to continue destroying the prevailing unity we have,” he said when virtually opening the National Unity Congress yesterday, reported Bernama.

       Ismail Sabri noted that racial unity had existed for so long in Malaysia as the principle had been preserved among the people in the spirit of goodwill and harmony, to the extent that the nation had become an exemplary model to other communities in the world.

       Therefore, when he took over as Prime Minister, the government had taken the initiative to sign the memorandum of understanding on transformation and political stability with Pakatan Harapan on Sept 13, he added.

       He said this was to enable all quarters in the Malaysian Family, regardless of political beliefs, to stay united and work together in facing the twin health and economic crises spawned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

       The virtual National Unity Congress, themed “Racial Unity Basis of National Wellbeing”, is co-organised by Rabitah International Alumni of Al-Azhar Malaysia and Universiti Malaya’s Academy of Islamic Studies with the cooperation of the National Unity Ministry and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

       Over 1,000 participants comprising academicians, community leaders, religious scholars as well as local and foreign students including those from Egypt, are participating in the two-day congress that began yesterday.

       Earlier, Ismail Sabri, who is also Umno vice-president, officiated the Bera Umno division delegates’ meeting in Pahang.

       He took the opportunity to reiterate that political stability was important for the country’s economy to recover from the impact of Covid-19 that had also affected foreign investments in Malaysia.

       Because of that, the Prime Minister said, he had made political stability part of his three main agendas.

       “Previously, in Parliament, it was like a war from the beginning to the end, in addition to attacks through the media. After reaching an understanding with the Opposition, the situation is better even though the war of words still goes on. It is more controlled and I told them as the leader of the country, I need a productive and non-emotional Opposition to give views, and to provide checks and balances.”