KOTA KINABALU: A new attendance record was set for the recent National Unity Week 2026 celebration in Sabah, says Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (pic).
The National Unity Minister said that a total of 284,448 visitors had attended the celebration held from June 11 to 14, the highest recorded since the national programme was introduced in 2023.
He said the achievement reflected the rakyat’s growing appreciation of the country’s cultural diversity, heritage and unique identities, which underpin national strength and cohesion.
“Given the overwhelming response, the National Unity Ministry will continue to organise the National Unity Week next year as a national platform that brings together people from diverse backgrounds,” he said in a statement, reported Bernama yesterday.
Aaron said feedback from visitors showed that three key attractions generated the strongest public interest throughout the four-day event.
They were the Ethnic Village, which showcased the daily lives of Malaysia’s main communities, the Ethnic Houses, which highlighted the distinct heritage of communities such as the Bajau, Melanau, Banjar, Kedayan and Portuguese and the Negara Bangsa and Raja Kita Exhibition, which successfully sparked young people’s interest in the nation’s history.
On efforts to strengthen national integration, he said, unity could not be built through one-off programmes but required sustained, long-term commitment that could be passed down through generations.
As such, he said the ministry would continue creating more opportunities and platforms for Malaysians to interact, foster closer ties and strengthen mutual understanding.
