Muthiah Alagappa
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Building a United, Cohesive Nation Through NCC2
Building a cohesive nation and developing an effective state are long-term processes that may take several decades, if not centuries.
Source: Edge Malaysia
Prominent banker Datuk Nazir Razak has again articulated the need for a second National Consultative Council (NCC2). This call has been supported by a number of political parties, including certain parties within the governing Barisan Nasional and senior politicians Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who was the former minister of international trade and industry.
I strongly endorse the need for NCC2 and future NCCs as they become necessary for Malaysia to become a cohesive nation and an effective state. Building a cohesive nation and developing an effective state are long-term processes that may take several decades, if not centuries….
This piece was originally published in the Edge Malaysia. It was published with a mistake; the original says ‘On nation-building, my view is that measures should be instituted to strengthen democracy in the country …’. It should say ‘On state-building, my view is that measures should be instituted to strengthen democracy in the country …’
About the Author
Former Nonresident Senior Fellow, Asia Program
Alagappa, formerly a nonresident senior fellow in the Asia Program, was the first holder of the Tun Hussein Onn Chair in international studies at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His research focuses primarily on Asian security, the political legitimacy of governments, civil society and political change, and the political role of the military in Asia.
- Obama’s Golden Opportunity in MalaysiaArticle
- Developing a Strategic Relationship with ChinaIn The Media
Muthiah Alagappa
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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