MIRI: The Unity Carnival Miri has kicked off at Bakam Point, marking a notable celebration aimed to celebrate and promote the unity, well-being and rich cultural diversity of Malaysia’s multi-racial, multi-religious and multicultural communities.
National Unity Minister Datuk Seri Aaron Ago Dagang said the carnival plays a crucial role in fostering unity and appreciation for Malaysia’s diverse heritage since its independence.
“The Unity Carnival is the best platform to highlight the unity and well-being of our diverse communities. It educates the community to deepen and appreciate the values of unity that we have experienced since the country achieved independence,” he said.
The carnival is part of the Unity Week celebration, a key initiative under the Vibrant Unity cluster, aimed at spreading knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Malaysia’s diverse customs and cultures.
Aaron noted that such programmes enable various racial communities to engage closely, learning about each other’s customs and cultures, which strengthens relationships at the grassroots level.
“Through this kind of programme, communities of various races can get to know each other more closely, especially related to customs and cultures of various ethnicities in this country,” he added. “Unity and integration efforts must start from the roots to strengthen community bonds and preserve the ecosystem of unity.”
Addressing the National Unity Index Survey (IPNas) during the event, he disclosed that Sarawak’s Unity Index currently stands at 0.6 on a scale where 1.0 is perfect. In comparison, Labuan ranks higher at 0.9.
The survey, conducted by UKM, is part of ongoing efforts to measure and improve unity across Malaysia.
“We appointed UKM to study the unity index, which is currently underway,” he stated.
The carnival’s launch also saw the presence of Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat and National Unity Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof.
The programmes are part of a nationwide series, with previous stops including Sabah, Sarawak, Federal Territory Labuan, Terengganu, Penang and Negeri Sembilan.
