IMAGINE a road mayhem with scores dead in one of the worst accidents on Malaysian roads. It’d be unforeseeable for the Transport Minister to not spring into action whether visiting the scene of the carnage or survivors in hospitals or barking orders about beefing up road safety.

Or imagine the outbreak of a health epidemic that has claimed dozens of lives as Malaysians grow increasingly anxious. The Health Minister would not waste a moment longer to address the nation about the current state of affairs and what the government is doing in the quest to allay public worries.

But as the country faces a succession of tense moments unseen in recent times such as the controversy over the KK Super Mart sock-gate issue, supposed “Allah” inscription on Vern’s shoes and the emotionally-charged vandalism of a Chinese Datuk Gong idol, the National Unity Minister is almost nowhere to be physically seen or heard.

In fact, most Malaysians do not know who the minister is - that is, presuming they know the National Unity Ministry exists in the first place (most Malaysians don’t)!

For the uninitiated, the minister is Datuk Aaron Ago Anak Dagang who hailed from Sarawak, a land where the unity among the different communities there ought to be the gold standard for those from Peninsular Malaysia.

But unfortunately, the 66-year-old five-term Kanowit MP does not seem to have what it takes to “ship” the kind of camaraderie seen in his home state across the South China Sea.

His role - at least in terms of public perception - was negligible despite the gravity of the problem although to be fair, he did issue some run-of-the-mill media statements which barely received any attention.

Quiet stint

In fact, it was the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) who has stepped in to do Aaron Ago’s job when the former summoned some of the key actors in the on-going drama - notably KK Super Mart founder Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan and UMNO Youth head honcho Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh to ease tension.

A simple Google search indicates that the minister’s most recent news was last week where he disclosed statistics on the rising number of 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues that took place in the first quarter of this year.

One would think that he’d have been more strident in calling for an end to divisive statements or political posturing that harms the nation. Or he could have summoned Dr Akmal or mobilised a concerted nationwide campaign to lower the political temperature. But could he has chosen to play it safe by opting to “see no evil, hear no evil”?

Or perhaps his hands are tight given that Aaron Ago did outline that the National Unity Ministry is not an enforcement agency but more of a platform to support authorities such as the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the National Security Council in matters of unity issue management?

Whatever the case is, Aaron Ago will be best remembered for wanting to meet twice former premier meeting Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for questioning the loyalty of Malaysians of Indian descent if the former remained stubborn with his views.

And when Tun Dr Mahathir said he was prepared to meet, nothing came out of it. No such meeting took place and neither was there any explanation on why the purported meeting did not materialise despite the minister’s earlier willingness to meet the elderly statesman.

Perhaps - with due respect - the soft-spoken Aaron Ago does not have the robustness that his portfolio requires. The post calls for someone who is able to take the bulls by the horn while at the same time, highly-skilled in diplomacy to bring warring factions together and smooth things out amicably.

Rightfully, Aaron Ago should be the man of the hour - alongside Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail - as political tension threatens to unravel the very fabric of our plural society. Unfortunately, the duo has not lived up to such expectations. - April 11, 2024 

https://focusmalaysia.my/shouldnt-the-unity-minister-seize-the-moment-to-be-more-pro-active-in-quelling-national-tension/