KUALA LUMPUR: The National Unity Ministry is set to drive a new nation-building vision next year, centred on a shared national identity and continuous efforts to foster unity among the people.
Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (pic) said 2026 would require the ministry to shoulder great responsibility, as the country faces emerging challenges such as social fragmentation, digital polarisation and the erosion of national identity amid globalisation and borderless media.
He said a nation-state was not created overnight but forged on trust, strengthened by love and nurtured through the willingness of the people to understand one another despite differences in skin colour, language and beliefs.
“The key is sharing a national identity. We will not lose our identity when we are united, and we do not become lesser by embracing tolerance.
“Malaysia’s true strength lies in celebrating diversity and making togetherness the foundation for building the future,” he said in a Facebook post marking the end of 2025, Bernama reported.
Aaron believed that unity would continue to be the source of Malaysia’s strength, so long as the people chose understanding over judgment, respect over differentiation and unity over division.
He said that the aspiration of a nation-state represents a commitment to future generations, ensuring they inherit a country that is peaceful, just and harmonious – not merely a place to live, but one in which they feel a sense of belonging.
Aaron said that unity was not a success that could be easily measured, as it was not reflected in graphs or statistics, but was instead manifested through changes in attitudes, the practice of good values and sincere interactions among people.
