The notion of unity is no stranger to states far and wide, let alone Malaysia – a country endowed with descendants from three of the earliest civilizations. With deliberate segregation of the populace under the façade of “specialization”- courtesy of our colonial masters, ethnic strains have long been engrained into Malaysia’s past. In light of that, efforts to bridge this ethnic divide since its independence reflects the wide-spread recognition of the need for national unity in Malaysia.
This essay will first define the term “national unity” and examine the its importance in the case of Malaysia, followed by ways in which moderation could foster unity.