Lim Teck Ghee Forging National Unity and Integration: Whose Responsibility

World Bank/IDA Findings Resilient and Competitive Economies are marked by high social cohesion and low conflict inclusion of social groups access and equality of opportunity rule of law and vibrant democratic institutions neutral, efficient and non-corrupt bureaucracy open societies

Less Competitive and Resilient Societies are marked by exclusion of groups and communities oppressive and authoritarian systems inequity/inequality partisan, corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy closed society

Conflict Avoidance Learn from lessons of past but do not be imprisoned by paradigms of past Social rights should not be delayed/reduced because of economic disparities Need to match rhetoric with action in practicing tolerance and fairness Engage in positive tolerance Practice/ internalize fairness as a prerequisite to participation in a modern pluralistic society

National Integration: Whose Responsibility? Government of the day Mass media Teachers and religious leaders Elites Tolerance and fairness must be extended beyond elite groups to the ground level through inter-faith and inter-ethnic dialogues at the community level

Role of NGOs Provide early warning through identification of social risks and tensions Monitoring and evaluation of issues, policies and outcomes Act as conduit for greater stakeholder participation Act as catalyst for transparency and accountability, leading to better outcomes

How ASLI/Center for Public Policy Studies Can Assist Assist in identification and dissemination of best practices in national integration and social cohesion Through the use of the electronic website, establish a continuing multi-ethnic forum on national integration and unity issues Tap the potential of the younger generation in advancing national unity and integration Assist in collection of better data with better methods and employing better analytical tools