Malaysia leads Asean countries and ranks second in Asia, after Japan, in the list of countries which succeed in maintaining unity among their people.

National Unity and Integration Department director-general Azman Azmin Hassan said that based on the list issued by the Global Peace Index, Malaysia was at 19th position among the countries in the world.

"The country's success in fostering unity has attracted the world to learn how Malaysia does it.

"This is due to the capability of the country's leaders in maintaining unity among the people of various races, resulting in Malaysia being invited by the United Nations to table a working paper on unity in New York next month."

DG: Don’t attend Bersih rally

He told this to reporters after the opening of the state-level Unity Week 2011 celebration at the Air Tawar Beach Resort in Besut today by State Health, Unity and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Dr A Rahman Mokhtar.

Azman said that with such a recognition given to Malaysia, there was no doubt about the peaceful situation in the country.

Hence, he advised the people to maintain racial harmony in the country and to cooperate with the government to avoid any incident that could jeopardise the harmonious situation.

He also advised the people to not participate in the demonstration planned by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) on July 9.

- Bernama