Ethnic conflict and peace-building in malaysia: the role of government agency by the national unity and integration department (DNUI)

This article analyses about the role of the National Unity and Integration Department (DNUI) as one of the government agency in Malaysia to deal with the ethnic relation’s issues. Due to the colonial era, British had rule Tanah Melayu (Malaya) and brought in foreign labourers especially from China and India to ensure large-scale activities can be completed accordingly. All of these economic activities are based on the policy of divide and rule practiced by the British. The different placements and activities between each ethnicity in Malaya at that time resulted in a lack of communication and interaction between the ethnic groups. May 13 1969, after 12 years of Malaya independence, marks the black history of the inter-ethnic conflict outbreak in the country. Consequently, the government established the Majlis Gerakan Negara (Mageran) or National Operations Council (NOC) to study and find the possible solutions to address the issues of conflict among ethnicities in Malaysia. As a result of the NOC initiatives, one of the government agencies that were established in order to deal with ethnic conflicts that occur in the country and create substantial value of reconciliation is the Department of National Unity and Integration (DNUI). The initiatives taken by DNUI is to establish the Rukun Tetangga (RT) or Community Organization, Skim Rondaan Sukarela (SRS) or Volunteer Patrol Scheme and the Tadika Perpaduan or Unity Kindergarten. Through the establishment of the DNUI as a government agency responsible for addressing ethnic conflicts in Malaysia from happening again, the DNUI has played a part in creating peace-building activities.