Govt abandons National Harmony Commission plan

The proposed National Harmony Commission will not be established, the government has announced. National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang revealed this after two engagement sessions involving civil society organisations, government agencies, academics, community leaders, and various stakeholders. The sessions evaluated the necessity, scope, implications, challenges, and feasibility of setting up the National Harmony Commission.

After carefully considering all the perspectives and conducting a thorough review, the ministry concluded that it would not proceed with establishing the National Harmony Commission as a separate entity. Instead, the ministry intends to focus on enhancing the capabilities of existing institutions, such as the Department of National Unity and Integration, Rukun Tetangga communities, and Community Mediators, as the primary mechanisms for maintaining social harmony.

Dagang explained that these approaches are considered practical, responsive, and cost-effective, as they would prevent any duplication of functions and the expenses associated with creating a new organization. The government's renewed efforts to establish the National Harmony Commission in April were motivated by concerns over unity-related issues.

These plans were inspired by earlier initiatives dating back to 2015, when the National Unity Advisory Council had drafted three bills addressing racial and religious hatred offenses, national harmony, reconciliation, and the creation of the commission. However, in 2019, the government declined two of these bills due to their overlap with existing laws and constitutional provisions, including Article 8, which safeguards against discrimination.