NIBONG TEBAL: The 2025 National Unity Week (SMP) celebration, set to take place over four days from Thursday (July 17) at Batu Kawan Stadium here, promises a variety of exciting and interactive activities for visitors.
Penang National Unity and Integration Department director Rozai Zahar Nedi (pic) said among the main attractions will be traffic summons discounts of between 30% and 50% offered by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
He said this third edition, following previous ones in Kuching (2023) and Johor (2024), will feature the Rumah Kami exhibition, showcasing 24 ethnic groups from across the country, including the Siamese, Chetti, Kerinci, Melayu Brunei, Baba Nyonya, Kedayan and Bisaya.
"Visitors will be able to step inside these traditional houses and experience their culture, food, weddings and attire firsthand.
"There will also be live cooking demonstrations, giving visitors a chance to sample their unique cuisines throughout the four-day event,” he said when interviewed at the Seberang Perai Selatan Unity Complex here recently.
"It’s more than just displaying the architecture of each ethnic group, we’re filling these houses with traditional attire, cultural performances, dances and music specially curated for visitors,” he said.
Rozai Zahar said SMP 2025 will also feature exhibitions by 43 government departments and agencies, entrepreneur showcases under the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry, displays and product sales by Progressive Rukun Tetangga Areas, a book fair, foodunites and food trucks, e-sports and traditional games, as well as performances by popular artists.
For security and defence enthusiasts, he said there will be a display of assets by the Malaysian Armed Forces, PDRM, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Civil Defence Force.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will launch the event at 10.30am on Saturday (July 19), and is expected to join visitors at the Foodunites area, which will offer over 130 traditional dishes at affordable prices.
This year's northern zone edition of SMP is themed "Unity in Diversity: Fostering Social Harmony Through Shared Moments of Unity", Rozai Zahar said.
Its objective is to raise public awareness on the importance of preserving national unity and integration as the foundation for a harmonious, prosperous and stable nation, he added.
The event also aims to ignite a spirit of patriotism and love for the country, fostering a society where unity is reflected in daily interactions, guided by mutual respect, cooperation, and tolerance, ultimately encouraging greater community engagement, he said.
According to Rozai Zahar, free Rapid Penang bus services will run between Sungai Nibong, Seberang Jaya, and Batu Kawan Stadium, while AirAsia Ride will offer discounted fares to the venue.
"SMP isn’t just a programme by the National Unity Ministry, it also involves other ministries, such as the Education Ministry.
"This is not merely a festival, but an informative platform designed to directly engage and educate the public,” he stressed. – Bernama
