Putrajaya's newly-formed National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) will comprise 29 members from a broad range of experts and is given six months to brainstorm new measures to foster national unity.

 

The council, headed by Employees Provident Fund chairperson Samsuddin Osman, will present its recommendations to the cabinet and has the freedom to gather feedback and decide on issues that it will tackle.

 

NONE In announcing the formation of the council today, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the new body will be have the freedom to even discuss sensitive topics such as the use of "Allah" by non-Muslims, housing issues and issues involving Sabah and Sarawak.

 

However, the council can only meet behind closed doors.

 

"The idea is to have a much more controlled-environment - as the NUCC will discuss issues of ethnicity, constitution, religion and other policies.

 

"If it is discussed as polemic outside... this will burn the feelings of inter-racial relations and that is not healthy.

"So we need a closed-consultative council that can have open and frank discussion," Najib told reporters at the launch of the NUCC in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said the NUCC would be free of politics and its recommendations can cover four broad topics: Laws, the federal constitution, values and programmes.

Part of the reconciliation plan

Najib denied suggestions that the NUCC was a reaction to 13th general election results, which some claimed went along racial lines.

 

Instead, he said, the NUCC was "part and parcel" of his national reconciliation plan.

 

"NUCC should not be not seen as pro-government or pro-opposition but one with an objective viewpoint... those who have an open attitude and not use this as a political platform, then we welcome their participation," Najib said.

 

"The process of nation-building is a long process and we need positive intervention in a more structured manner."

 

Asked if the NUCC was his answer to PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim's call for dialogue on national issues, Najib said that the opposition leader's suggestion was a separate issue.

 

"That is the realm of politics and this is about nation-building."

 

Former MP and social activist Lee Lam Thye will serve as the NUCC's deputy chairperson. The other 27 members are:

 

1. Ramon Navaratnam

2. Pheng Yin Huah

3. Napsiah Omar

4. Michael Yeoh Oon Kheng

5. Johan Jaafar

6. Boon Som s/o Inong

7. Mujahid Yusof Rawa

8. Clarence Bongkos Malakun

9. John Sikayun

10. Lim Kok Cheong

11. Saifuddin Abdullah

12. Haji Zainal Abidin Haji Abdul Kadir

13. Rugayah Abdul Majid

14. Dr Kantayya Mariappan

15. Dr Madeline Berma

16. Dr Suresh Kumar Govind

17. Dr Bilson Kurus @ Belson Bingku

18. Tan Yew Sing

19. Lim Chee Wee

20. Liaw Lam Thye

21. Sardar Jagir Singh

22. Marina Mahathir

23. Mohamed Maliki Mohamed Rapiee

24. Mohamad Anas Omar @ Anas Zubedy

25. Wardina Safiyyah Fadlullah Wilmot

26. Mohamad Ariff Irwani Azahari

27. Audrey Goh