Kuala lumpur: Twelve new members have been appointed to the National Unity Advisory Council (MPPN) for the 2025-2027 term, comprising community leaders, representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academics, cultural figures, corporate personalities, and delegates from Sabah and Sarawak.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the National Unity Ministry (KPN) stated that the appointments were announced at today's MPPN meeting. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and attended by National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
The newly appointed members include Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR) chairman Datuk Dr Johan Arriffin Abd Samad, Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ramzah Dambul, and Universiti Malaya's Academy of Malay Studies Centre for Malay Excellence Studies director Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi. Other appointees are Dayak Cultural Foundation chairman Prof Datu Dr Neilson Ilan Anak Mersat and Women's Institute of Management trustee Ainon Kuntom.
The council was established to advise the government on issues related to national unity, provide a platform to deliberate on matters of social cohesion, and recommend solutions to address unity challenges.
The statement highlighted that eight MPPN meetings were held from 2020 to 2025, contributing to several major policies and initiatives. These include the National Unity Policy, the National Unity Action Plan 2021-2030, the implementation of the Rukun Negara pledge at official government events and parliamentary openings, and the Tabika Perpaduan Early Childhood Education Plan 2021-2030. Other initiatives include the Rukun Negara Appreciation Module, the MADANI Unity Integration Movement Programme, and the reinstatement of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN).
Aaron noted that the ministry has been mandated to lead Pillar D1, which is Nation-Building, under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) for 2026-2030. This plan emphasizes building a sovereign, dignified, and cohesive nation to ensure long-term harmony and stability. He added that KPN is currently formulating the Nation-Building Action Plan, to be followed by a Nation-Building Conference next year.