TUESDAY, 09 MAY – A seminar and forum on inter-ethnic relations organised by the International Relations Programme of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage (FKSW) gave an insightful awareness to its audience comprising of staff and students of FKSW as well as invited guests from other organisations in Sabah.

According to the Dean of FKSW, Prof. Dr. Ismail Ibrahim, we should discuss and look into ways in which we can better integrate our ethnic communities to strive for unity in diversity as Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.

According to him, this should be done with elements of inclusiveness to ensure a fair and just government.

His text was read by the Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation, Associate Professor Dr. Susan Sim Chee Cheang, at a recent seminar on “Strategies in Ethnic Accommodation and Political Bargaining in Comparative Perspectives” held at the Theatrette Ahmad Nisfu, FKSW.

“We hope to bring positive changes to policies on ethnic relations that will only strengthen the nation in every respect,” he said.

The recent seminar featured a well-known lecturer who had written seven books to his credit and a Harvard University PhD graduate, Emeritus Professor Donald Horowitz, a James B. Duke Professor of Law and Political Science Emeritus at Duke University, United States. 

The seminar also held a forum in the afternoon on “Inter-ethnic Coalitions in Malaysia” that featured Senior Lecturer at FKSW, Dr. Paul Porodong; Chief Executive Officer of Better Nation Institute (BNI), Elviza Michele Kamal and Emeritus Professor Donald Horowitz with the Chief Executive Officer of the Society Empowerment and Economic Development of Sabah (SEEDS) who is also a lecturer attached to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Dr. Arnold Puyok as the moderator.

Also present at the event was the Chairman of SEEDS, Datuk Badil Zaman. - FL