20/07/2025

NATIONAL 4 theSun on Sunday JULY 20, 2025

Ministry unveils plan to pair state festivals with celebration BATU KAWAN: The National Unity Ministry is developing a new strategy for next year’s Unity Week by introducing a 2-in-1 concept at the state level, combining the celebration with ethnic minority cultural festivals unique to each state. National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said the initiative aims to honour the heritage of ethnic minorities while providing Malaysians with a platform to appreciate the cultural diversity that defines the national identity. “For example, Perak will feature the Siamese community through the Songkran Festival, Sarawak with the Melanau’s Kaul Festival, Sabah with the Rungus’ Magahau Festival, Kelantan with the Orang Asli Temiar celebration, and Johor with the Bugis’ Lepa-Lepa Festival. “The ministry remains committed to fostering unity, nationhood, goodwill and volunteerism among Malaysians. These efforts are guided by the Federal Constitution, the Rukun Negara and the National Unity Policy,” he said at the national-level Unity Week celebration held at Batu Kawan Stadium yesterday. The third edition of Unity Week, hosted in Penang, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and attended by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul and National Unity Deputy Minister K. Saraswathy. Aaron said the National Unity Index now in its third cycle is expected to reach a score of 0.7, reflecting current levels of unity among Malaysians. The index assesses key indicators such as inter-ethnic relations, perceptions of national identity and social beliefs, serving as a key reference for policy development and unity initiatives. – Bernama www.kpdn.gov.my/ms/jualan rahmah. Launched on Jan 11, 2023, the programme is a year-round initiative aimed at supporting low-income communities by boosting local retail activity and reducing the cost of living. Discounted items include chicken, fish, eggs, sugar, bottled cooking oil, flour, rice, personal care goods, and household cleaning products. Meanwhile, Jezlily said 1,343 liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, worth nearly RM40,000, were seized under Ops Gasak, which began in Pahang on May 1. The seizures followed eight raids based on public complaints, intelligence, and routine inspections – four in Kuantan, two in Raub, and one each in Temerloh and Rompin. – Bernama

Traditional games draw crowds at Unity Week

Agriculture and Food Security Deputy Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said the figure represents individuals or organisations actively engaged in agriculture, with the interior zone – comprising Keningau, Sook, Nabawan, Tambunan and Tenom – accounting for 26% of the state’s total. “This number is expected to rise further, given the vast potential of undeveloped agricultural land in the interior areas,” he said when launching the Road to National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day Series 2 programme in Sook on Friday. In response to the growth, the ministry has ramped up efforts through various agencies to strengthen the sector in these rural areas. BATU KAWAN: The traditional games booth set up by the Museums Department at the national-level Unity Week celebration has emerged as one of the main attractions, particularly among younger visitors. Held at the Batu Kawan Stadium complex, the booth features more than 20 traditional games and sports – including sumpit , galah panjang, baling getah, boling kelapa, kaki hantu, batu seremban, congkak, teng teng and dam ular – all reflecting the cultural richness and diversity of Malaysian society. National Museum curator Mohd Jamil Harun said the games were not merely on display but available for visitors to try, allowing them to relive nostalgic memories while introducing traditional pastimes to a generation increasingly unfamiliar with them. “Younger visitors are especially drawn to kaki hantu and kerchang , a traditional game from the Orang Asli community. Many are unfamiliar with how to play, so our secretariat demonstrates the proper technique. Interactive activities evoke nostalgia and introduce heritage pastimes to younger generation

Dusun and Orang Asli villages, the Malaysia Tanah Airku and Susur Masa exhibitions by the Museums Department, and the National Library Pavilion. With the theme “Harmony in Diversity”, the celebration also features a lively mix of programmes, including Food Unites, Madani Sales, local handicrafts and product booths, a durian fiesta, unity run, traditional sports, e-sports championships, Kembara Ilmu , the Penang Book Festival, Wayang Pacak , the Open Boria competition and the Primary School Ethnic Dance contest.

her a new and exciting experience, even though some games were already familiar to her. “I often play congkak at school, but here I got to try games like timbang chapteh and boling kelapa . It was really fun because I discovered traditional games I’d never seen or even heard of before,” she said. A total of 35 activities have been lined up for visitors throughout Unity Week celebration, which began on Thursday and concludes today. Highlights include the Rumah KAMI exhibition, the Kadazan

the establishment of the Sook Area Farmers’ Organisation, a coffee processing facility in Sapulut, Nabawan, padi field restoration in Tulid and the cultivation of taro and onions in Sook, Bernama reported. Plans are also underway to introduce high-value crops such as MD2 pineapples. Arthur said the federal and state governments remain committed to supporting agricultural development through strategic policy planning, technical assistance and rural infrastructure investment to boost agri-food productivity. He highlighted the role of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) as the lead agency for agri-food marketing services, saying it plays a critical part in maintaining the food security chain by ensuring supply availability, affordability, usage stability and sustainability. Last year, Sabah Fama was “It’s the same with lastik tin . We provide rubber slingshots like those once used to aim at lizards. They don’t know how to use them correctly, which is why programmes such as the celebration are crucial – at the very least, they create awareness and appreciation for our heritage,” he told Bernama yesterday. To boost participation, the team also organised daily activities and competitions throughout the four-day event – including timbang chapteh, baling damak and sepak raga gelung – all aimed at reviving interest in traditional sports. To further engage families and children, the booth offered interactive DIY workshops where participants could make batu seremban, kites and even craft their own congkak boards. These handmade games could be taken home, giving participants a meaningful and memorable connection to Malaysia’s heritage. Mohd Jamil said such activities help instil interest and appreciation for the artistic and creative value within traditional games. “We’ve had a very encouraging response since yesterday. Visitors have been coming non-stop from 9am to 10pm. It’s heartening to see not only children but also their families joining in enthusiastically.” Amirah Farwizah Tan Ammar Firdaus Tan, 12, a pupil from Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent Butterworth, said the booth gave

Children having a go at the traditional game of batu seremban during the celebration. – BERNAMAPIC

Sabah records highest agricultural holdings SOOK: Sabah recorded the highest number of agricultural holdings in the country, with a total of 159,259, according to the interim report of the 2024 Agriculture Census. Initiatives include allocated RM13.8 million for the implementation of 313 projects and programmes, benefiting over 29,000 entrepreneurs and generating RM83 million in sales.

Rahmah sales in Pahang top RM25 million in six months

KUANTAN: The Rahmah Madani Sales Programme in Pahang has recorded RM25 million in sales over six months since its launch in January. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry Pahang director Jezlily Jamaluddin said the figure was achieved through 744 events across the state, drawing more than 713,000 visitors. “This year, we aim to organise 1,008 programme sessions, offering essential food and non food items at prices 10% to 30% lower than the local market,” she told Bernama. She said rural communities were also benefitting, with the programme held at each of Pahang’s 42 constituencies at least twice a month. The programme schedule is available on the ministry’s Pahang Facebook page and its website at

“With the upgrading of tamu (rural markets), strengthening of retail networks and strategic engagement with farmers at grassroots level, Fama is confident Sabah can become a key pillar of the national food security agenda,” he added. On the programme, Arthur said the event celebrates the contributions of farmers, breeders and fishermen to the country’s agri food development. “This edition in Sook marks the final stop before the national-level celebration, which will be held in Kota Kinabalu from Aug 1 to 3. “This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate 50 years of the programme and even more so as Sabah hosts the national event again after 30 years. The last time it was held here was in 1995.”