PUTRAJAYA: Twelve new members have been appointed to the National Unity Advisory Council for the 2025-2027 term.
In a statement, the National Unity Ministry said the appointments were made at yesterday’s council meeting.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Also present was National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
The new members comprise community leaders, representatives of non-governmental organisations, academics, cultural figures, corporate personalities and delegates from Sabah and Sarawak.
They include Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights chairman Datuk Dr Johan Arriffin Abd Samad, Institute for Development Studies Sabah chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ramzah Dambul and Universiti Malaya’s Academy of Malay Studies, Centre for Malay Excellence Studies director Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.
Also appointed were Dayak Cultural Foundation chairman Prof Datu Dr Neilson Ilan Mersat and Women’s Institute of Management trustee Ainon Kuntom, Bernama reported.
According to the ministry, the council was set up to advise the government on issues related to national unity, provide a platform to deliberate on matters of social cohesion and recommend solutions to address unity challenges.
It added that eight council meetings were held from 2020 to 2025, contributing to several major policies and initiatives.
These include the National Unity Policy, the National Unity Action Plan 2021-2030, implementation of the Rukun Negara pledge at official government events and parliamentary openings, and the Tabika Perpaduan Early Childhood Education Plan 2021-2030.
Other initiatives are the Rukun Negara Appreciation Module, the Madani Unity Integration Movement Programme and the reinstatement of the National Service Training Programme.
Aaron said the ministry is mandated to lead Pillar D1, which is Nation-Building, under the 13th Malaysia Plan for 2026-2030, with emphasis on building a sovereign, dignified and cohesive nation to ensure long-term harmony and stability.
