Areas of Focus

Highlights:

  • Submitted 10 Recommendations to Ministry of Education on the National School System..
  • Proposed Formation of National Consultative Council on Religious Harmony to the relevant Government officials..
  • Issued press release Condemning Arson Attacks, Polarisation, Use of Allah in Bibles, Extremism, Widening Income Inequality, Need to Review Ethnicity Columns in Forms, Interlok Controversy, Orang Asli Rights, the Bahasa Bible and many others..

    • As inter-ethnic bridge builders, we spent the second half of 2009 analysing and understanding better the dynamics shaping Malaysian public opinion on national issues..

    At the same time, we concentrated efforts in building a credible platform as an NGO, working without fear or favour..

    Our broad objectives are:

    • Develop programmes/activities which focus on national unity related issues..
    • Engage and support civil society activities..
    • Promote public awareness on national unity matters via selected communication channels including the media and the Yayasan 1Malaysia website..
    • Conduct research and speack up on key policy areas including national unity issues..

      • Our Achievements:

      1.Programmes and Activities

      • 15 March 2010: We hosted the inaugural media roundtable with Editors from key media groups, to talk about the changing social landscape in Malaysia and the challenges faced in relation to national unity. Yayasan 1Malaysia will meet the media on an annual basis in order to obtain effective feedback and suggestions towards achieving greater national unity in Malaysia. Efforts will also be made to host meetings with media in Sabah and Sarawak..
      • August 2010: We supported Bernama's run-up to National Day with short capsules on what national unity means to us as Malaysiansl. The capsules aired for 1 month on Bernama TV..
      • 17 September 2010: We hosted a national seminar on "Living in a Multi-Ethnic Society" in conjuction with Malaysia Day which was celebrated for the first time in Malaysia history on 16 September 2010..
      • 20 January 2011: Yayasan 1Malaysia launched a new logo, with contemporary features, to underscore its commitment to national unity..
      • 20 January 2011: Yayasan 1Malaysia launched "Friends of Yayasan 1Malaysia", a support group meant to help foster inter-ethnic harmony amongst communities. Currently there are over 200 Friends registered some of who are active participants in Yayasan activities./
      • 26 February 2011: Yayasan hosted its first seminar aimed at educating students on the fundamentals of good citizenship. 10 schools in the Klang Valley were invited to send students as participants to this seminar entitled: Citizenship:Rights & Responsibilities"..
      • 2 March 2011: Yayasan held a press conference calling for Malaysian public and private sector organisations to review the need to have the "Ethnicity" column in forms as a means to reduce the current preoccupation with ethnicity amongst Malaysians..
      • 19 March 2011: Yayasan hosted its ever gathering of Friends of Yayasan 1Malaysia. Objective of the event was to touch base with our supporters and enlist help of volunteers..
      • 9 April 2011: Yayasan hosted a Unity Trek for Friends of Yayasan 1Malaysia. The trek to Chiling Waterfall in Kuala Kubu Baru helped to bring the various members closer together in the spirit of 1Malaysia..
      • 27 April 2011: Yayasan hosted its second meeting with media over lunch. Issues discussed included deepening chasms between the various ethnic groups and included suggestions on how Yayasan can play a more proactive role in being inter-ethnic bridge builders..

        • 2.Engage and support civil society activities

        Yayasan considers it imperative to support the activities of organisations which aim to foster national unity in Malaysia.

        Yayasan 1Malaysia supported a public seminar entitled "Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason" held on 16 November 2010 where Yayasan Chairman was one of the speakers.

        Yayasan continues to with numerous public and private sector organisations that include universities, Government institutions and schools to propagate the need for Malaysians to have empathy for each other in striving towards national unity.

        Addresing a group of young Malaysian journalists at an event organised by the Malaysia Press Institute, Yayasan 1Malaysia Chairman called for balanced media reporting as the media play a curcial role in shaping the minds of Malaysians on national unity issues.


        3.Promote Public Awareness Via Website and Media

        Yayasan 1Malaysia launched a more interactive website on 16 November 2010 in order to reach out to younger Malaysians. More recently,Yayasan began its weekly Opinion Poll that serves to obtain feedback on current thinking on the ground on topical issues that range from politics to religion and education.

        In addition, there continues to be regular issuance of press statements and letters to the Editor aimed at providing clarity on current national unity issues. Our stand has consistently been fair and balanced and in the spirit of 1Malaysia.

        Yayasan 1Malaysia has also used the medium of press release and letters to the editor to reflect its stand on issues such as Arson Attacks,Polarisation,Use of Allah in Bibles,Extremism,Widening Income Inequality,Need to Review Ethnicity Columns in Forms,Interlok Controversy,Orang Asli Rights,the Bahasa Bible and many others.