Tag: respect

Unity Week 2026: ‘Moments Of Unity’ Brings Malaysians Together Through Shared Experiences

KOTA KINABALU, June 12 -- The "Moments of Unity" concept forms the cornerstone of the National Unity Week (SMP) 2026 celebration at Likas Stadium here, creating opportunities for Malaysians from diverse backgrounds to connect through shared experiences that strengthen national cohesion. The four-day programme, organised by the National Unity Ministry and running from yesterday until Sunday, is among the flagship initiatives under the Unity Expedition programme themed "Together Building a Nation," with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate it on Saturday. Sabah National Unity and Integration Department director Rina Ab Harun said the celebration carries significant meaning in efforts to foster harmony and reinforce the Malaysian identity within the country's multicultural society. Speaking to Bernama, she said SMP is more than a symbolic event, serving as an effective platform to promote social integration at the grassroots level and enable people to better appreciate the values underpinning national unity. "This is reflected through a wide range of programmes held throughout the celebration, including arts festivals, sporting activities, forums, cultural programmes and community initiatives that encourage meaningful interaction across communities and generations,” she said. Rina said such engagements were essential in narrowing social divides, cultivating empathy and strengthening the spirit of goodwill among Malaysians. Building on its nationwide outreach efforts, SMP 2026 was held from April to May across five zones, namely the Eastern, Northern, Southern, Central and Sarawak, before culminating in the national-level celebration in Sabah. She said Sabah is the fourth host of the national-level celebration after Sarawak in 2023, followed by Johor in 2024 and Penang last year. According to her, a wide range of activities covering sports, culture, arts and exhibitions, including ethnic house exhibitions and ethnic village displays, were held throughout the four-day programme. “SMP 2026 also features the Progressive Neighbourhood Watch Economic Carnival, handicraft sales, FoodUnites sales, Rahmah Sales and Agro MADANI Sales, as well as various stage performances and competitions, including creative ethnic dance contests,” she said. Rina urged all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or background, to regard unity as a shared responsibility and a heritage that must be preserved with sincerity and awareness. She said unity is not merely a slogan but a way of life that begins with mutual understanding, respect, acceptance and appreciation of one another. "In an increasingly challenging world, Malaysia's true strength lies in our ability to remain united despite our diversity, whether in times of joy or adversity. "I hope this Unity Week celebration will serve as a catalyst for a new wave of awareness, particularly among the younger generation, that love for fellow citizens, tolerance and consensus are the most valuable assets in ensuring a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive future for the nation," she said. She also invited the public, especially those in Sabah, to attend and enliven the celebration, which offers an opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity and the spirit of togetherness while participating in a variety of family-friendly activities with free admission. -- BERNAMA

KOTA KINABALU, June 12 — The “Moments of Unity” concept forms the cornerstone of the National Unity Week (SMP) 2026 celebration at Likas Stadium here, creating opportunities for Malaysians from diverse backgrounds to connect through shared experiences that strengthen national cohesion. The four-day programme, organised by the National Unity Ministry and running from yesterday until […]