Kurup: Unity squad new initiative to boost national unity and integration

THE Unity Squad is the latest initiative by the government to boost national unity and integration in the country.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said the squad’s functions, among others, were solving local community problems through mediation, and organising the voluntary patrol scheme and rukun tetangga, and unity education and social outreach programmes.

“It has the role of providing the best services to the community, especially to the young generation,” he said in reply to a question from Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad ( BN-Lipis) at the Dewan Rakyat sitting, here, yestrday.

Abdul Rahman wanted to know about the government’s action plan to ensure that action was taken against irresponsible groups that created provocation between the racial communities and how far had the plan been effective.

Kurup said the National Unity and Integration Department was committed to taking various approaches to preserve racial unity, including using mediation for intervention and solving social issues at the community level.

He said to date, 874 community mediators had been trained and certified to carry out the responsibility.

Kurup said expanding the 6,580 rukun tetangga sectors and over 3,000 voluntary patrol schemes nationwide was also being done to build good neighbourly spirit and volunteerism to ensure harmony and improved security. — Bernama