JOHOR BAHRU: Minister of National Unity,Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, chaired the first unity meeting (MExUnity) this year.
MExUnity comprises State Unity Exco Members and Exco Members for Non-Islamic Religious Affairs as well as ministers entrusted with unity affairs in Sabah and Sarawak.
“MExUnity serves as a platform for discussing efforts to strengthen unity, including planning and implementing unity programmes at the state level,”it said in a statement on Monday (May27).
Key issues discussed at this meeting included initiatives for empowering Rukun Tetangga (RT) as progressive community drivers, the Rukun Negara Youth Exploration Tour, and the Harmoni Madani Initiative.
“The role of RT as a driver, key mediator, and bridge builder in the community requires transformational progress through community-driven development,”it said.
Therefore, one of the Ministry’s initiatives to achieve this goal is to empower RT’s role as progressive community drivers.
“At least 116 RTs from across the country have been identified as Progressive RT Models aimed at phased poverty eradication at the community level, with 19 RTs in Sabah, 12 RTs in Kelantan, 12 RTs in Perak, and the remainder in other states,”it said.
To further energise the Rukun Negara Exploration Programme, the Rukun Negara Youth Exploration Tour will intensify efforts and approaches to strengthen the appreciation and practice of the Rukun Negara ideology in daily life.
The Rukun Negara Youth Exploration Tour is scheduled to run from July to December nationwide.
This tour will be conducted in six zones: Central Zone (launch) Selangor, WP Kuala Lumpur, WP Putrajaya, in July, Northern Zone, Kedah, Perlis, Penang, Perak, in August, Southern Zone, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan in August, Eastern Zone, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, in September, Borneo Zone Sarawak, in September, Borneo Zone, Sabah, WP Labuan, in October.
Meanwhile, the Harmoni Madani initiative aims to promote the fundamental principles of national integration, namely “Understanding,” “Respect,” and “Acceptance,” particularly concerning issues related to inter-religious relations.
The Minister also requested that all states have their signature unity programmes, which will be fully supported by the Ministry.
He also praised the implementation of state-level signature unity programmes such as the Pesta Angin Timur in Perlis, the Rukun Negara Oratory Competition in Melaka, the Gagasan Rumpun Selangor Program in Selangor, the Dikir Barat Unity Competition in Kelantan, the Unity Camp Fire in Pahang, and the Cross-Cultural Program in Johor.
He expressed hope that all Exco members would continue to support the implementation of unity programmes to strengthen the integration of the multiracial society in line with the aspirations of the current Unity Government.
