Latest news with #JPNIN
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Penang unity week 2025 to boost grassroots integration and harmony
GEORGE TOWN: The National Unity Week (SMP) is more than a symbolic event, it is a crucial platform to foster social cohesion and meaningful grassroots integration, says Penang National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN) director Rohai Zahar Nedi. Penang has been selected to host the 2025 National Unity Week, featuring a wide range of programmes designed to promote harmony through sports, cultural and artistic activities. The event, running from this Thursday until July 20, will include the Rumah Kami exhibition showcasing 24 ethnic communities, replicas of Kadazandusun and Orang Asli longhouses, as well as exhibitions by government agencies, private sector organisations, and NGOs. Rohai highlighted key attractions such as MADANI sales, FoodUnites, traffic summons discounts, museum showcases, and the cultural concert Malam Irama Sama-Sama Kita featuring top Malaysian artistes. He emphasised that the event encourages cross-cultural interaction and shared experiences across ethnic and generational lines, key to bridging social divides, building empathy, and strengthening national identity. More importantly, it promotes the core values of 'Understand, Respect and Accept', encouraging Malaysians to not only appreciate each other's backgrounds, but to embrace diversity as a national strength. Rohai added that the initiative contributes to a sustainable unity ecosystem and positions national cohesion as a shared responsibility, not just a government mandate. To further boost public engagement, the National Unity Ministry is organising a Jelajah Kembara Perpaduan roadshow, which began in Melaka on April 4–5 and has since reached Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Perlis, Terengganu, and Sabah. Rohai called on Malaysians of all backgrounds to treat unity as a collective duty and a valuable legacy to be preserved with sincerity and awareness. The 2025 National Unity Week will be held at Batu Kawan Stadium over four days, with the official launch by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim scheduled for 10.30 am on July 19. - Bernama
Barnama
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Penang To Host Unity Week With Focus On Grassroots Integration
GEORGE TOWN, July 14 (Bernama) -- The National Unity Week (SMP) is more than a symbolic event, it is a crucial platform to foster social cohesion and meaningful grassroots integration, says Penang National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN) director Rohai Zahar Nedi. Penang has been selected to host the 2025 National Unity Week, featuring a wide range of programmes designed to promote harmony through sports, cultural and artistic activities. Running from this Thursday until July 20, the event will include the Rumah Kami exhibition showcasing 24 ethnic communities, replicas of Kadazandusun and Orang Asli longhouses, as well as exhibitions by government agencies, private sector organisations, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGO). 'Other highlights include MADANI sales, FoodUnites, traffic summons discounts, museum showcases and the cultural concert Malam Irama Sama-Sama Kita featuring top Malaysian artistes,' Rohai said in a radio interview with MutiaraFM today. He said the event encourages cross-cultural interaction and shared experiences across ethnic and generational lines, key to bridging social divides, building empathy and strengthening national identity. 'More importantly, it promotes the core values of 'Understand, Respect and Accept', encouraging Malaysians to not only appreciate each other's backgrounds, but to embrace diversity as a national strength,' he said. Rohai added that the initiative contributes to a sustainable unity ecosystem and positions national cohesion as a shared responsibility, not just a government mandate. To further boost public engagement, the National Unity Ministry is organising a Jelajah Kembara Perpaduan roadshow, which began in Melaka on April 4–5 and has since reached Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Perlis, Terengganu and Sabah. Rohai called on Malaysians of all backgrounds to treat unity as a collective duty and a valuable legacy to be preserved with sincerity and awareness.
Barnama
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Community Mediator Plays Important Role In Resolving Conflicts At Local Level
GENERAL GEORGE TOWN, June 23 (Bernama) -- A community mediator plays an important role as an intermediary in resolving conflicts and misunderstandings at the community level. The Penang National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN) deputy director Zulkhairi Zainal said community mediators are at the forefront, performing their duties proactively, transparently and at no cost, thereby helping to avoid court or enforcement intervention in minor cases that can be resolved harmoniously. 'These mediators comprise chairpersons of the Neighbourhood Watch Areas (KRT), who are specifically trained and certified by JPNIN as initial or preliminary assistants in case of any disputes in the community. "They act pro bono, meaning without payment and voluntarily. They are appointed to reduce issues or conflicts at the community level before they become more serious," he said to reporters after attending the Penang State Level Community Mediator Dialogue Session here today. He said there are 47 active community mediators in Penang, and the JPNIN will continue to train chairpersons or new KRT committee members from time to time to strengthen this role. Meanwhile, he said today's dialogue session involved several agencies such as the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), National Education Department (JPN), National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), and the Penang Housing Board (LPNPP), aimed at introducing the role of mediators and opening up collaboration opportunities between the agencies and JPNIN. 'Sometimes domestic issues in schools or police stations such as misunderstandings, minor arguments and family conflicts can be resolved without the need to go to court. Here is where the role of community mediators is important as a bridge to reaching an amicable solution between the parties involved,' he said. At the same time, he suggested that government agencies facing community-related issues should make community mediators their initial point of reference to resolve conflicts peacefully and judiciously. According to the National Unity Ministry, community mediators are third parties who strive to gain the acceptance of those involved in a social conflict to find points of agreement that are acceptable to all parties, with the hope that their relationships do not continue to deteriorate but instead become more positive.
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
RAKAN platform launched to tackle unity-related complaints
SHAH ALAM: The National Unity Ministry (KPN) has introduced a new initiative, the National Public Community Complaints Network (RAKAN), as a dedicated digital platform to facilitate public complaints related to unity issues. Its minister Datuk Aaron Aro Dagang said the platform will strengthen the management of information and responses to community complaints while enhancing the efficiency of monitoring systems for safety and harmony at the grassroots level. 'RAKAN is an initiative to bring the public closer to the government in empowering communities to maintain national harmony. 'We are confident this initiative can foster a sense of social responsibility among the public in addressing sensitive issues that could threaten unity,' he told reporters after launching the platform here today. Developed by the National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN), RAKAN is accessible starting today via the website Aaron assured that all complaint information will be kept confidential, where district unity officers will review the reports and share them with the right agencies at local, state, or national levels. Authorities like the police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will also be involved when needed. Earlier in his speech, Aaron said KPN aims to raise the National Unity Index (IPNas) score to at least 0.70 this year, up from 0.629 in 2022. He said IPNas is the country's only official tool for measuring national unity and harmony, which recorded its first score in 2018 at 0.567. 'To achieve the target IPNas score of 0.70 this year, the ministry has implemented various efforts, including community dialogues, multi-ethnic integration programmes and continuous empowerment of grassroots roles. 'Importantly, improving the IPNas score is not just about statistics but about strengthening the nation's social foundation, from perception to action,' he said. Aaron said the ministry is actively exploring new digital avenues to strengthen unity, including online applications for Rukun Tetangga (neighbourhood watch) formations, enhancing systematic reporting and monitoring mechanisms and developing a centralised community data analytics system for targeted interventions. He added that these efforts are being driven through the creation of a community analytics database under JPNIN, which is expected to form the backbone of KPN's digital strategy in advancing a more holistic and inclusive national unity agenda.
Barnama
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Parents Of All Backgrounds Encouraged To Enrol Children In Tabika Perpaduan
BUTTERWORTH, May 18 (Bernama) -- The National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN) is encouraging parents of all ethnic backgrounds to consider enrolling their children in Tabika Perpaduan, a preschool initiative designed to foster interethnic understanding from an early age. Although open to all communities, enrolments remain overwhelmingly Malay, with department figures showing they made up nearly 77 per cent, or 26,835 out of 34,889 pupils, as of February. JPNIN director-general Datuk Che Roslan Che Daud said the kindergartens aim to serve as a foundation for national unity, incorporating structured lessons on values such as mutual respect and the principles of the Rukun Negara alongside the standard curriculum. He acknowledged that there may still be misconceptions about the purpose and inclusiveness of the programme, with some assuming the schools cater only to Malays. 'That's not true. The word Perpaduan (unity) itself reflects inclusivity. It is open to all and we want to correct this misunderstanding,' he told reporters after officiating the 2025 Teacher's Day celebration for Tabika and Taska Perpaduan here today. Currently, Chinese and Indian students account for 1.3 per cent and 5.6 per cent of total enrolment respectively, with the remainder from other ethnic groups, according to official data. Che Roslan said JPNIN is working closely with the Education Ministry to explore ways of expanding the programme's reach and integrating its unity-focused module into other registered preschools. He added that outreach efforts would also be stepped up, including public awareness campaigns and engagement at state level to help ensure more balanced participation. "We believe the best way to nurture unity is to start young, which is why we're urging all communities to be part of this effort," he said.
