Question

FOUR (4) challenges to national unity and integration within Malaysian context

Answer 1

The four challenges to national unity and integration in Malaysia are as follows:

1. Segregation of living areas or settlements.

During the time of British occupation of Malay, Chinese and Indian labours settled on the islands according to their economic functions as decreed by the Britishers. After independence, it remained intact due to the prior divide and rule policy of the Britishers.

2. Different focus of economic sectors

Because of the divide and rule policy, Chinese labourers made their life out of trade and mining and Indians out of estates. So, different economic activities made it less possible for racial interaction.

3. Segregation in education system

The education was available only in vernacular malay and english. English was reserved for nobles. Indians had a different education system which didn't have secondary education. Tamil teachers were brought from India to teach indian children in estates. Chinese also had a different education system.

4. Differing religion and beliefs

Malayns follow Islam, most Indians are Hindu and most Chinese are Buddhist. Christianity is also practiced by the Bumiputras. Due to their differing ideologies and religious beliefs, it's difficult to unite them as they are reluctant to compromise with other beliefs.

These were the four major challenges faced by Malaysia in uniting and integrating the nation.