Malaysia should embrace ‘harmony in disagreement’, says academic

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should embrace “harmony in disagreement” as a foundation for national unity, instead of seeking uniformity in views, says sociologist Abdul Rahman Embong.

The Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia academic said disagreement is a natural feature of a plural society and should not be confused with a lack of understanding.

“Disagreement can be interpreted as not having the same understanding. It is not a lack of understanding,” he said in his keynote address at the Simposium Harmoni 2026 here today.

“It means there is not a single understanding, but multiple understandings.

“When we uphold the principle of harmony in disagreement, no party can demand uniformity, hegemony or homogeneity.”

Rahman said unity should not be built on demands for uniformity, hegemony or homogeneity.

Instead, he said, Malaysia should strengthen national unity through respect for diversity and plural perspectives.

He said the key challenge is identifying common ground among Malaysians of different backgrounds.

He said shared spaces already exist in daily life, including neighbourhoods and workplaces, where Malaysians interact and cooperate despite their differences.

Through this, Malaysia can strengthen an inclusive national identity that accommodates diversity while fostering a shared sense of belonging.