National Unity Strengthens But Requires Sustained Effort -- Aaron

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s national unity has recorded strong progress, with the 2025 National Unity Index (IPNas) reaching 0.701, exceeding the target set under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan. 

Minister of National Unity Aaron Ago Dagang said the improvement confirms that the government’s efforts to strengthen national cohesion are on the right track. The index has risen steadily from 0.567 in 2018 to 0.629 in 2022, before climbing to 0.701 last year.

“Although unity remains at a moderately high level, the 2025 score signals clear and sustained strengthening.

“It reflects a strong national spirit and growing public confidence in the country’s system of governance,” he said in a statement today.

Aaron noted that Governance and Development (TUP) was the largest contributor to the 2025 IPNas score, accounting for 69.7 per cent.

This reflects increasingly positive public perceptions of the government’s efficiency, fairness and transparency.

TUP refers to the effective, fair and transparent management of power and resources by the government to enhance the people’s quality of life.

“In this study, TUP is measured on public perceptions of six core components: economic management, politics, crime, public services, public facilities and community management, all of which reflect how effectively the government meets the people’s needs and safeguards their well-being,” he said.

Beyond TUP, Aaron said National Ethos contributed 46.7 per cent, followed by Ethnicity Level (34.7 per cent) and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations (31.4 per cent), which together strengthen the nation’s social fabric.

Regionally, Sarawak recorded the highest score at 0.791, with the Eastern Region ranking second at 0.741.

The Southern Region posted 0.719, while Sabah and Labuan registered 0.726. The Central (0.670) and Northern (0.650) regions continue to face urbanisation and socio-economic structural challenges, but both demonstrate clear potential for further improvement.

At the state level, Pahang led with a score of 0.817, narrowly ahead of Melaka (0.816) and Sarawak (0.791).

Aaron stressed that national unity is at a moderate level and will remain fragile unless strengthened through sustained, consistent efforts.

“The trend is upward and encouraging, but unity is an ongoing process. It requires strategic interventions, inclusive policies and the commitment of all parties,” he said.

He added that the findings of the 2025 IPNas will continue to serve as a key reference in refining the ministry’s policies and programmes to ensure that the momentum in strengthening national unity is sustained and further enhanced.

-- BERNAMA