‘We can do more'
Affectionately describing entrepreneurs as 'crazy people', he says the community can give back to the people through their available resources; and Projek57 has been on the ground engaging them to promote positive narratives on uniting Malaysians.
'They are very creative, they are very driven. So we are trying to mobilise them. And a lot of them have big organisations, thousands of staff members.'
Projek57 itself has carried out various activities with businesses including Eco World, Touch 'n' Go and Allianz. They held talks, a walk and cycling tours, among others.
'It has been a very interesting endeavour because we met people from different back-grounds; and the business people came and they got their employees involved as well.'
Working together: Youth making unity ribbons at a Projek57 workshop. — The Star
Projek57's unity ribbon pins are used to spread the message of unity.
Swee reiterates a question: Does the forging of unity or cohesion rest solely with the government?
'That is a good question. Everyone relies on the government to do something about it. But for us, this is where we can play our part too as a company, entrepreneurs and members of the public.'
He also calls for a shift in mindset about Malaysia's trajectory; social cohesion can be an issue, policies for the betterment of the people remain in place although they are not perfect.
'Many people think Malaysia is in a bad shape. But compared to some countries, we're doing better than we think.
'The United States is one of the richest countries, yet there's real fighting [about the economic pie] and all the wealth is concentrated at the top.
'Malaysia has subsidies. School is free. Our policies aren't perfect, but they're there. Maybe the winds are strong now but we just need to reset the sails. In Malay-sia, I think the wind is actually quite calm. We just need to ride with it.'
Projek57 executive director Debbie Choa also urges Malaysians not to give up on their own country too easily.
'A lot of people say, 'Let's just move to Singapore, the US, or Australia'. But we believe there's still so much in Malaysia worth working for.
'People before us have made sacrifices for this country. It is a waste if everyone just runs away. And it's not just Chinese youths. We see it across the board – Malay families, our friends – they're all thinking about leaving.
'But Malaysia still has heart. We just need to believe in it and do the work to make it better.'
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