Unity Built Through Continuous, Comprehensive Efforts - Aaron

KOTA KINABALU, June 13 (Bernama) -- Unity cannot be achieved through a single programme, but instead demands continuous, consistent and comprehensive efforts, said National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.

He stressed that fostering unity was not a one-off initiative, but a long-term commitment that must be continuously nurtured and strengthened.

As such, Aaron said the ministry implemented 762 programmes last year covering the strengthening of identity, nationhood, volunteerism, community development and inter-religious harmony.

“The implementation (of the programmes) reflects a comprehensive approach in strengthening national unity. The results are clearly seen in the 2025 National Unity Index, with the unity of Malaysians continuing to increase, achieving a score of 0.701, the highest in seven years.

“This increase shows a consistent (upward) trend since 2018, when the index stood at 0.567, rising to 0.629 in 2022 and 0.701 in 2025, thus surpassing the medium-high level and achieving the target set under the 12th Malaysia Plan,” he said at the opening of the national-level National Unity Week 2026, officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, here today.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

Aaron further said his ministry remained committed to strengthening community development at the grassroots level, given its role as the frontline agency in promoting national unity closest to the people.

He said the community movement had been strengthened, among others, through 8,615 Rukun Tetangga areas (KRTs) involving about 250,000 members, benefiting more than 12 million Malaysians through the implementation of over 100,000 activities last year.

“The government provides an annual grant of RM6,000 for each KRT, but this rate has not been reviewed for a long time. I therefore request that the Prime Minister consider increasing or improving the annual KRT annual grant.

“This is to enable more community programmes to be implemented more effectively and comprehensively at the grassroots level,” he said.

In addition, Aaron said 5,493 Voluntary Patrol Schemes had been further strengthened as a community safety initiative based on the neighbourhood watch concept, which had been a key focus since the establishment of KRT in 1975.

He said the ministry had also introduced the Uniti Squad in states frequently hit by floods as a community frontline in assisting disaster victims, including providing food aid and post-disaster support.

According to him, a total of 595 Community Mediators had been appointed under the MADANI Government as a new initiative to provide pro bono mediation services without involving the litigation process, with 156 community conflict cases successfully resolved through the approach last year.

“This initiative has also become one of the benchmarks and best practices at ASEAN level in the peaceful management of community conflicts,” he said.

Aaron said another initiative involved empowering 608 rural libraries with new roles as centres for lifelong learning and economic activities, while Arkib@Komuniti aimed at strengthening the collection and preservation of historical materials at community level.

“To date, more than 300,000 items have been successfully collected through this initiative,” he said, adding that all these initiatives reflected the ministry’s commitment to strengthening the role of the community as the foundation of unity and the well-being of the people.

--BERNAMA