BUILDING UNITY REQUIRES COLLECTIVE EFFORT ACROSS SOCIETY - AOD, PROJEK57

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Social media has changed how young Malaysians connect, offering new ways to interact across cultures but also creating complex challenges to social cohesion.

According to Architects of Diversity (AOD), a leading non-profit organisation, these platforms give diverse communities greater visibility and representation.

However, it said this freedom can weaken social norms and accountability, allowing misinformation to spread rapidly, deepening stereotypes, fueling mistrust, and escalating communal tensions.

AOD stresses that while celebrating diverse voices is important, harmful behaviour must also be addressed, and therefore, she urges a new generation of “advocates and bridge-builders” to challenge online discrimination and promote an inclusive digital culture based on empathy and peace.

“However, building a more unified Malaysia requires more than just a shift in online behaviour; it also requires active participation from the business community and the public,” said AOD general manager Neila Maryam in a statement.

Meanwhile, co-founder of the social enterprise Projek57, Colin Swee in the same statement, said he believes that entrepreneurs, with their unique resources and innovative spirit, are exceptionally well-positioned to drive this change.

He said his organisation has partnered with major corporations such as Eco World, Touch 'n' Go, and Allianz to go beyond corporate social responsibility by engaging employees and leaders in unity-building talks and community walks.

Thus, Swee challenges the common misconception that national unity is solely the government’s responsibility, stressing that it requires collective, bottom-up efforts.

He also calls for a shift in mindset, encouraging Malaysians to appreciate the nation’s strengths, such as free education and subsidies, rather than focusing only on its shortcomings or imperfections.

“This positive outlook is crucial for countering the negative narratives that can lead to public disillusionment and even motivate some, particularly young people and their families, to consider leaving the country,” he said. 

-- BERNAMA