KANGAR: The Ministry of National Unity will introduce a new direction, namely Nation-Building, starting next year in line with the mandate under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).

The Minister in question, Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, said the main emphasis was placed on efforts to build a sovereign, dignified and united nation to ensure harmony, peace and stability in the country.

“In line with that, national unity based on the Federal Constitution and the Rukun Negara will continue to be the foundation in strengthening national identity.

“In the Malaysian context, the concept of a Nation State cannot be interpreted narrowly as “one race, one culture”. Instead, the Nation State of Malaysia is formed from people who come from various races, religions, cultures and languages, yet are united under a shared national identity.

“This is the identity that is the core of the country’s unity, prosperity and harmony,” he said when speaking at the opening ceremony of Fiesta Uniti @ Kota Kayang Museum and Rumah Hijau, the birthplace of the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail at the Kota Kayang Museum, Kuala Perlis here today.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin and was also attended by the Raja Perempuan Perlis Tuanku Tengku Fauziah, the late Tengku Abdul Rashid.

In this regard, Aaron said museums are among the important platforms in the effort to build a Nation, and museums can no longer be seen as just storage centres for artefacts or historical documents, but must play a role as national educational institutions that are alive and relevant to society.

“In this context, museums must also emerge as a platform for dialogue between generations and cultures, bringing together the diverse experiences of Malaysians under one umbrella of national identity.

“This role is very important to ensure that history is not just remembered, but lived and used as a guide in building a more united and progressive future,” he said.

He said that through continuous efforts to strengthen the function of museums as institutions of knowledge, heritage and unity, it not only preserves the nation’s history but also instills a spirit of patriotism and national pride in every Malaysian.

— BERNAMA