Asean chairmanship: National Unity Ministry to host programmes to strengthen regional unity

BUTTERWORTH, Jan 10 — The National Unity Ministry will host various programmes to strengthen regional unity under the Asean Socio-Cultural Community pillar throughout Malaysia’s Asean Chairmanship, said its Deputy Minister K. Saraswathy.

“This is among the Ministry of National Unity’s efforts to build a more inclusive, harmonious, and sustainable Asean community,” she told the press after officiating the Moral and Hindu Religion Quiz Challenge for Tamil National-Type School students in Penang today.

Malaysia officially assumed the Asean chairmanship on January 1, under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, reflecting the nation’s aspiration to shape a united and prosperous Asean.

Throughout the year, Malaysia will host approximately 323 Asean meetings at various levels, including the Asean Summit.

Meanwhile, Saraswathy said the ministry and its agencies will organise 360 high-impact unity programmes annually to encourage Malaysians to view diversity as a strength to be leveraged, enabling the country to compete with others in the region.

“Since the establishment of the Ministry of National Unity in 2020, we have made significant progress in bolstering unity. In fact, the level of unity among Malaysians is now at its best,” she said.

On the National Unity Index, Saraswathy said the biennial study has shown a positive trend, with a target score of 0.7 set for this year.

“Currently, Malaysia stands at 0.52, and we hope to achieve the target of 0.7, which is considered satisfactory in the current context.

“However, the National Unity Ministry acknowledges that there are several key challenges to tackle,” she said.

— Bernama