Hishammuddin said the government has always encouraged the development of different cultures and religions in the country.
“We are a peaceful multi-cultural and religious country, coping with diversity in a manner highly unusual and often criticized by outsiders. We have allowed and encouraged the different communities, Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and Ibans, to develop and nurture their language, religion and cultural practices,” he said during the 13th FBI National Academy Associates Conference Asia Pacific Chapter.
The Umno vice president said that public must take the opportunity to turn Malaysia into a unique society.
“Malaysia greatest challenge of independence is our diversity. Fifty-three years later, it is still our greatest challenge. We still have not come to appreciate the value of national and cultural diversity as strength. We still have yet to think our multi-racialism beyond just compromise. We have yet to see it as an invitation to work together and create a unique society together. We still see it part of a social contract,” he said.
He pointed out that the public is still defensive and have yet to capitalize on the country’s diversity.
“We continue to be defensive of our diversity and continue to only see potential sensitivity and pitfalls. We are not proud of it nor do we teach our children to see it as benefit and make capital out of it. Today we are faced with so many new challenges and we have to decide how to move forward. This is why the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib’s 1 Malaysia is so important,” he said.
However, the country is still reeling from the affects of the church arson attacks after the High Court had allowed the use of the word “Allah” by the Catholic Church last year.
The Home Ministry has since received a stay against the judgment and the Church is still waiting for the date of the hearing.
The Home Minister also drew heavy criticism after he met with protestors that stomped and spat a severed cow-head, an animal sacred in Hinduism, in a demonstration against the new site of a Hindu temple outside the Selangor state secretariat last year.
The government also recently announced the establishment of a panel to monitor the media.
Hishammuddin defended the government’s move to establish a committee to stop the dissemination of false news.
“The freedom of expression is not an absolute right if it splits the country,” said the home minister.
The committee members include Hishamudddin, Information Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz.
Hishamuddin explained that government must balance the rights of the majority, the minority, the freedom of expression and national security.
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) newspapers Suara Keadilan, Harakah and The Rocket have all run into problems renewing their publishing permits and have been issued with show-cause letters.
The opposition coalition has halted publishing until the problems are worked out with Home Ministry.
