MELAKA, May 10 — The Unity Week Celebration has proven to have a significant impact as a key platform for Malaysians of various races, cultures, and languages to integrate, relax, and strengthen national harmony.

National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said the signature programme, now approaching its third year of organisation, has successfully created a space for people from diverse backgrounds to gather in one place.

“This year’s Unity Week Celebration is more unique as it is implemented by zones, involving states with their own cultural and heritage strengths,” he told reporters this after officiating the 2026 Southern Zone Unity Week Celebration and the 2026 National-Level Community Archives programme at the Independence Declaration Memorial Square in Banda Hilir here yesterday. 

He said his ministry continuously conducts post-programme studies and analyses to assess the effectiveness of the initiative, particularly in terms of public response and acceptance, stating that progress has been very encouraging with numbers rising every year.

The impact of national unity is not measured solely through physical programmes, but also assessed holistically through the Unity Index, which also considers governance and socio-economic development as key indicators, he added.

Based on the index, Aaron said Pahang recorded the highest unity score, driven by the state’s strong economy and already well-established social cohesion.

In comparison, he explained that Sarawak’s level of social harmony is excellent without any racial issues, although the region’s index reading is also influenced by gaps in basic infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity supply, as well as issues related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Meanwhile, commenting on the Community Archives Celebration, he said it aims to bring archives closer to society through community involvement in documenting and preserving historical materials and the country’s heritage.

“The purpose is to involve communities at the grassroots level in submitting or collecting their historical and heritage materials to be preserved by the National Archives,” he said.

He explained that as of last March, the National Archives of Malaysia’s community collection had reached 309,740 items, including documents, photographs, publications, audiovisual materials, and personal artefacts.

For the period from January to December last year, he said 6,296 collection items were received from prominent figures, individuals, families, and organisations.

Among the important collections received are a letter from Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles dated 1810, the Tengku Omar Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah collection dated 1848, and the collection of language figure Za’aba from 1903.

Aaron said the largest collection received so far belongs to the late Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, involving 21,331 archival materials, while Tengku Omar’s letter collection was also recognised under UNESCO’s MOWCAP Regional Register 2024.

“For this year, we will focus on several programmes including documentation of Bajau cultural heritage in Semporna, Community Archives @ Kampung Warna-Warni in Perlis, and documentation of Sarawak Drums (Bermukun) in Kuching,” he said.

In a related development, he said the ministry has now been entrusted with an important mandate under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) to drive a new direction — nation-building — following the success of various community-based programmes implemented.

He said various small-scale activities and engagement sessions have already begun to provide the public with a clearer understanding of the nation-building concept.

“We respect one another, and this diversity of beliefs is elevated as a strength for us to remain united. It is not something new, but rather an effort to restore the original foundation of Malaysia’s formation,” he explained. — Bernama