10/12/2025

WEDNESDAY | DEC 10, 2025

11

Bridging gaps in national unity A WAY from the wayang of politics, two recent events bring food for thought. They can be the focus of policy and initiatives, such as: 0 National Unity Action Plan 2021-2030; 0 Implementation of the Rukun Negara pledge at official events; and 0 Tabika Perpaduan Early Childhood Education Plan 2021-2030. addressed, have become irrelevant or overlooked in relation to new challenges. A N O T H E R T A K E

Ministry provides think-tanks, NGO and social and religious organisations with funding to support their project involvement. With a modest budget allocation of RM50 million, funding each participating organisation with RM100,000 could generate reports from 500 contributors, forming the basis of a valuable national data bank, with implications for the country’s inclusive development. This is precisely the kind of relevant and effective participatory action research the government should support. This proposed project, involving key stakeholders, can generate actionable findings and address national unity challenges through collaboration, empowerment and the democratic co creation of knowledge. The new portal can be integrated into the ministry’s website and help monitor and guide other ministries on post-NEP successes and shortcomings. It will provide the public, policymakers and implementers with access to data and feedback, promoting transparent and accountable governance. Importantly, the national data bank will not only enable continuous public scrutiny but also provide critics of any new iterations, as well as whistleblowers of alleged wrongful policy practices, a platform to share and disseminate timely responses. If implemented, this project can serve as a model for reforming affirmative action policies and programmes worldwide. Lim Teck Ghee’s Another Take is aimed at demystifying social orthodoxy. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com responsible for the ideas and the final work. Being open about AI use does not erase the value of the work; it shows care and honesty in a changing writing landscape. Writing has always evolved with technology. In the past, people debated whether typing on a keyboard was“real”writing compared with using a pen. Today, the conversation continues with new tools but the core idea remains the same. Real writing is not about the method; it is about the message and the mind behind it. The real writer is not the one who types the fastest or uses the smartest tool; it is the one who chooses words carefully, adds a personal voice and takes responsibility for what is written. Tools can help shape the form but only people can give writing its heart. If we stay open-minded and focus on how people use technology, we can create a more understanding and creative writing world. Writing is about connection, not perfection. When meaning, voice and honesty come first, the human writer will always matter most. Syed Azman Syed Ismail is a postgraduate student in the Faculty of Education at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

A key part will relate to what lessons have been learned and what policy changes are required to meet future challenges. Thus, business organisations will deal with the latest policies affecting their sector, be it in SMEs, industry, retailing, logistics, housing and construction. Similarly universities will focus on education, including issues related to admission and quota systems. Special attention is likely to be given by contributing organisations on the drawbacks and failures of existing policies and how these have negatively impacted their organisation’s well-being and development as well as on the larger national concerns over social cohesion and unity. This analysis can be accompanied by a concluding section identifying proposals for policy reform to be taken up by the government. It should be emphasised that previous efforts by NGO in submitting reform proposals have not gotten far. However, a process initiated, managed, controlled and executed by the National Unity Ministry should have a more positive outcome. Managing National Data Bank The results of this nationwide NEP evaluation can be published on a dedicated website to be launched by the end of 2026. This step is crucial to ensure that the project’s findings are not kept secret, which could restrict freedom of expression, undermine accountability and deny the public’s right to information. To encourage participation, it is proposed that the National Unity

public action to revive the Reformasi promises and process, which many Malaysians see as stalled. The first is the recently concluded trade agreement with the United States – Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. This has opened up a Pandora’s box of questions regarding the nation’s economic independence, the key policy sectors targeted as well as its impact on the nation’s core policies related to Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera rights and privileges. The second is the establishment of the National Unity Advisory Council (NUAC) to advise the government on matters related to unity, serve as a platform to discuss social cohesion issues and recommend solutions to unity challenges. Both developments are related, although somewhat differently, to the New Economic Policy (NEP) undertaken more than 50 years ago. This policy was intended to end in 1990 but instead has gone through multiple iterations. How effective can NUAC be? There is likely to be few among long time observers of national unity in the country that hold hope that the newest appointed members – the new Council involves a diverse group, including community leaders, representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGO), academics, cultural figures, corporate personalities and delegates from Sabah and Sarawak – can do much. The past work of the Council has apparently contributed to policies and MORE people today are using AI writing tools to support their work. Some use them to check grammar or find better word choices while others use them when they are stuck or unsure of how to begin. While this shift in writing habits has changed the way people express their ideas, it also raises a deeper concern. In a world of smart tools, how do we protect and preserve the human voice behind the words? Many people are unsure about how much AI assistance is “too much”. Some argue that AI undermines the personal effort writing requires while others see it as no different from using a thesaurus or asking a friend for help. Both views have merit but what matters most is not the tool itself; it is how the writer chooses to use it. Writing is more than just putting sentences together; it is a process of thinking, feeling and shaping meaning. The human writer is still the one who decides what story to tell and how to tell it. AI tools can be useful but they cannot think or feel like human beings. They do not have opinions or emotions and they cannot understand the finer details that come with real-life experiences. That depth comes from the person behind the screen. Even when AI suggests a phrase or structure, the final choice rests with

Most observers are not impressed with this past record and hope the new Council will do more. If its members follow through on their public commitments, they could provide the momentum needed to bring closure to the NEP, fostering a more unified and resilient society. Building a better future for all Here is an action project proposal for the new Council to consider. Its primary objective is to engage NEP stakeholders in conducting and sharing their own independent, comprehensive evaluation of the NEP and its latest proposed iteration within the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035, which has not yet been subjected to public scrutiny. The list of potential project participants can include: 0 think-tanks; 0 NGO; 0 universities and other educational institutions; 0 business and other professional organisations, including the housing and building organisations, legal organisations and trade unions; 0 social and religious organisations; and 0 political parties. Each participating entity can draw on their experiences dealing with NEP related policies and programmes. Their focus can be on which issues have been handled well, overcorrected, under

B

Y

E

L

E

I

H

M

G

T

K

E

C

“A key part will relate to what lessons have been learned and what policy changes are required to

meet future challenges.

COMMENT by Syed Azman Syed Ismail

Writing with heart: Keeping human touch in AI age

The real writer is not the one who types the fastest or uses the smartest tool; it is the one who chooses words carefully, adds a personal voice and takes responsibility for what is written. – REUTERSPIC

active and honest in the process. Using AI does not automatically make someone a better writer. Growth comes from engagement. Writers who pause to reflect, shape their messages and add meaning are doing the hard work of writing. In fields such as academic publishing, clear rules on AI use are emerging. Many journals now require authors to disclose any use of AI tools, even for minor tasks like editing or rephrasing. This transparency is important: it protects trust and makes clear that the human writer remains

the process but the meaning comes from the person. Adding a personal touch makes a difference. Your ideas, experiences and emotions are what give your writing life. Without them, the text may sound smooth but feel empty. Sometimes, people judge others harshly for using AI, saying the writing is not real or that it lacks effort. Instead of judging, we should look beyond. Some people use these tools because English is not their first language. Instead of criticising, we should focus on whether the writer is

the writer. This is where the writer’s voice emerges – not from the tool but from intention, care and creativity. There is a big difference between using AI to support your thinking and letting it think for you. When people copy entire sections without editing or reflection, their writing becomes flat and distant. It may look correct but it lacks heart. On the other hand, those who use AI to shape rough ideas and then rewrite in their own voice can still produce writing that is honest and thoughtful. The tool may help start