The Youth and Sports Ministry’s press release outlining the investigation and action taken against hockey player Hanis Nadiah Onn following her “racial slur” on social media, was not stern but totally diplomatic.

The last paragraph sounded more like a reminder rather than a warning, of how athletes should conduct themselves online.

Hanis is young and rash to say this, but what corrective measures are we taking?

Many such cases have happened in our country. These cases are a day or two sensation and we see some letters to editors in some online media and one or so in the print media. After a week the matter is forgotten. I am sure every right-thinking Malaysian will agree with me.

Do we have any concrete programs for such people who need to be educated and socialized to respect the values of our multi-ethnic, multi-religious, cultural society? Why are there none?

When someone wants to convert, we have JAKIM and many religious bodies to coach and mentor, but when someone utters hatred or rubbishes another ethnic group or religion, we just pass down with mild reminders and let them go!

We must stop being reactive but be more proactive to diagnose the root causes of prejudice, bigotry and discrimination in our country.

The laws may be there, but we have very reluctant enforcement authorities like the police or any other enforcement agencies.

The government should set up a Rukun Negara Institute and conduct courses in all subjects that are essential for socializing our people to live with respect, understanding and dignity.

Attendance at these courses should be made compulsory for people like Hanis Nadiah and all offenders who make such destructive or offensive comments agitating our colorful, beautiful and peaceful society called Malaysia.

The government should set up a Rukun Negara Institute and conduct courses essential for socializing our people to live with respect, understanding and dignity.

I know the Biro Tatanegara set up in the 70’s has lost its cause and direction. Let’s seriously look into Rukun Negara Institute as a center for national unity and understanding between the people, races and religion.

This recommendation is totally in line with the recent Conference of Rulers which called on the newly-formed government to cultivate a “spirit of togetherness” among the multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural people of the country.

In a message in conjunction with the 260th Meeting of the Conference of Rulers, Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir expressed hope that leaders would no longer raise racial and religious issues with the aim of inciting the public.

The Conference of Rulers called on the Prime Minister and Menteri Besar in each state to assume their duties based on the principles outlined in the Rukun Negara.

Chairman of the 260th Meeting of the Conference of Rulers, Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir said the new government must support and strengthen the principles of Rukun Negara proclaimed by the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin in 1970.

All public servants should attend a compulsory one-week program on the primary importance of our nation called Malaysia, rather any one-person, ethnic group or religion.

The curriculum of all educational institutions must include national unity and understanding of inter-, intra-racial, religious and cultural relations of every race, including our brothers and sisters in Sabah and Sarawak.

We cannot be saying national unity without strengthening the fundamental principles of nation-building in achieving these goals. The Masyarakat Madani espoused by our Prime Minister also says the same.

The Curriculum Development Center (CDC) under the Ministry of Education must organize dialogues and engage with all groups of societies and races proactively to work on this new syllabus to add greater emphasis on this key element which is totally missing in our education system.

Malaysia is a beautiful country. We shall not allow this cancerous disease called racial or religious bigots to tarnish the unity, peace, harmony and reputation of our country founded on the principles of unity in diversity.

(Ravindran Raman Kutty is an active social worker.)