Unity minister keen to use Sarawak experience to improve interracial, interreligious ties nationally
KUCHING, Dec 8 — National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang believes Sarawak has much to teach the other states about interracial and interreligious harmony even though Malaysia has been a plural society since its founding.
He also believes that peninsular Malaysians, especially those in the Klang Valley, are looking forward to learning from Sarawak’s experience on how to improve ties among the different races and faiths and hopes to use it for programmes under his ministry. “We want to bring our experience in Sarawak. We don’t have problems with unity. We are living in a harmonious situation here, and what we practise here should be practised in other states,” he told reporters at the Kuching International Airport today.
Ago, who is also the Kanowit MP, said this is his top agenda for the country. “As the name suggests, the thrust of the ministry will be on unity.
“Now that we are under a unity government, that makes it more relevant to have the unity ministry,” he quipped.
He added that unity was not only necessary for politics but also racial harmony.
He said that the National Unity Ministry may not be as big as other ministries but has a sensitive structure.
He added that his ministry now has charge of the Museum Department, National Archives and the National Library.
Previously, they were under the purview of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, which is now headed by another Sarawakian Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
