KOTA KINABALU: What was supposed to be a short family outing turned into an entire morning of discovery for Nuralia Lubin and her three children, who spent more than three hours exploring the National Unity Week celebration without realising how quickly time had passed.
"I didn't even realise how much time had passed," said the 38-year-old from Ranau, who arrived at the venue at about 8.30am and was still making her way through the exhibits close to noon.
For Nuralia, the visit was an opportunity to introduce her children, aged seven, 10 and 11, to the cultures and traditions that make up Malaysia's diversity.
Among the highlights were displays showcasing various ethnic communities and traditional games that are becoming increasingly unfamiliar to younger generations.
"The best thing here is seeing games that children today rarely play anymore," she said.
She also brought her children to exhibitions by agencies such as the police, Fire and Rescue Department and the library pavilion, where they eagerly joined activities and competitions.
The family was among thousands attending the four-day National Unity Week celebration, a flagship programme under Kembara Perpaduan aimed at fostering understanding among Malaysia's diverse communities.
One of the event's main attractions was Rumah Kami, which brought together 15 ethnic communities from across Malaysia, allowing visitors to learn about traditional attire, food, music, handicrafts and customs through interactive activities and cultural exchanges.
Nearby, the ethnic village featured traditional Malay, Chinese, Indian, Baba Nyonya and Siamese houses, complete with demonstrations of traditional food preparation, wedding customs, music, dance and handicrafts.
Yet while much of the focus was on what visitors could learn, participants said the experience was equally enriching for those manning the booths.
Community groups, entrepreneurs and cultural representatives from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia said the celebration gave them a rare opportunity to exchange ideas, learn about traditions beyond their own communities and discover how others were preserving and promoting their cultural heritage.
As host of this year's celebration, Sabah also became a cultural classroom of sorts for participants from other parts of the country, many of whom were exposed for the first time to indigenous crafts, foods and traditions unique to the state.
For Sahbah Sisa from Kampung Serdang Belipat in Lawas, Sarawak, the celebration was not only an opportunity to showcase products from her community but also a chance to connect with participants from other parts of the country.
Representing her local Rukun Tetangga community, she brought handmade products including decorative flowers crafted from fish scales, coconut shell handicrafts and kelulut honey products.
One of her most popular items, a decorative flower made from coconut shells, sold out early during the celebration.
The fish-scale flowers take up to two days to complete after the scales are cleaned, dried and shaped by hand.
"It is something we are very proud of, but did not have a lot of opportunity to show it to people from outside Lawas,” she said.
The event, she added, offered valuable exposure while allowing participants to exchange ideas and experiences with other community groups.
For many community-based and indigenous entrepreneurs, National Unity Week serves as a platform to introduce products that are often unique to a particular village, district or ethnic community.
As host of this year's celebration, Sabah also had an opportunity to showcase its indigenous cultures and traditions to visitors from across Malaysia.
Among those doing so was 50-year-old artisan Baldy Undo from Kota Marudu, whose booth featured traditional Kimaragang parang crafted using techniques passed down through generations.
Baldy said only a small number of artisans continue to practise the craft, which requires specialised skills and painstaking workmanship.
"Not many people can do this work," he said.
He hopes more young people will learn the craft and help ensure it does not disappear.
"It doesn't have to be only Kimaragang people. Anyone who is interested is welcome to learn," he said.
Beyond the performances and exhibitions, the celebration became a meeting point for Malaysians from different backgrounds to share traditions, stories and experiences.
For visitors like Nuralia, it was an opportunity to discover cultures beyond their own. For participants such as Sahbah and Baldy, it offered a platform to showcase community-based products and heritage that might otherwise remain confined to their villages and districts.
In doing so, National Unity Week has proven that the National Unity Ministry is on the right track in strengthening national unity by creating meaningful platforms that bring Malaysians together while celebrating the nation’s rich cultural diversity.
