Unity Week 2025 offers Rumah Kami cultural expo, discounts on summonses
Penang National Unity and Integration Department director Rozai Zahar Nedi (pic) said among the main attractions will be traffic summons discounts of between 30% and 50% offered by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
He said this third edition, following previous ones in Kuching (2023) and Johor (2024), will feature the Rumah Kami exhibition, showcasing 24 ethnic groups from across the country, including the Siamese, Chetti, Kerinci, Melayu Brunei, Baba Nyonya, Kedayan and Bisaya.
"Visitors will be able to step inside these traditional houses and experience their culture, food, weddings and attire firsthand.
"There will also be live cooking demonstrations, giving visitors a chance to sample their unique cuisines throughout the four-day event,' he said when interviewed at the Seberang Perai Selatan Unity Complex here recently.
"It's more than just displaying the architecture of each ethnic group, we're filling these houses with traditional attire, cultural performances, dances and music specially curated for visitors,' he said.
Rozai Zahar said SMP 2025 will also feature exhibitions by 43 government departments and agencies, entrepreneur showcases under the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry, displays and product sales by Progressive Rukun Tetangga Areas, a book fair, foodunites and food trucks, e-sports and traditional games, as well as performances by popular artists.
For security and defence enthusiasts, he said there will be a display of assets by the Malaysian Armed Forces, PDRM, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Civil Defence Force.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will launch the event at 10.30am on Saturday (July 19), and is expected to join visitors at the Foodunites area, which will offer over 130 traditional dishes at affordable prices.
This year's northern zone edition of SMP is themed "Unity in Diversity: Fostering Social Harmony Through Shared Moments of Unity", Rozai Zahar said.
Its objective is to raise public awareness on the importance of preserving national unity and integration as the foundation for a harmonious, prosperous and stable nation, he added.
The event also aims to ignite a spirit of patriotism and love for the country, fostering a society where unity is reflected in daily interactions, guided by mutual respect, cooperation, and tolerance, ultimately encouraging greater community engagement, he said.
According to Rozai Zahar, free Rapid Penang bus services will run between Sungai Nibong, Seberang Jaya, and Batu Kawan Stadium, while AirAsia Ride will offer discounted fares to the venue.
"SMP isn't just a programme by the National Unity Ministry, it also involves other ministries, such as the Education Ministry.
"This is not merely a festival, but an informative platform designed to directly engage and educate the public,' he stressed. – Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Final day of National Unity Week 2025 in Batu Kawan
BATU KAWAN: The national-level 2025 National Unity Week (SMP) celebrations are concluding today at Batu Kawan Stadium grounds after four days of vibrant activities. The event, which began on Thursday, has drawn over 250,000 visitors from diverse backgrounds. The final day kicks off at 6.30am with Zumba and traditional dance fitness sessions. Morning highlights include the Larian Kembara Ilmu and Fun Unity Run, followed by a multicultural traditional costume showcase at 9am. Children can enjoy the 'Didi & Friends' musical show at noon and 2pm, featuring meet-and-greet sessions with animated characters. Arts and culture enthusiasts can catch the open boria competition at the main stage from 4pm. Other attractions include spice identification contests, classic costume showcases, and entrepreneurship talks. Visitors can also explore Rumah KAMI exhibitions, ethnic village displays, traditional games, and Foodunites stalls. Public services such as traffic summons discounts from PDRM and JPJ, as well as reduced compound fines from MBPP and MBSP, are available during the event. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the celebration yesterday. The event, themed 'Harmony in Diversity,' concludes at 6pm today. - Bernama
Barnama
3 days ago
- Barnama
Final Day For Visitors As National Unity Week 2025 Celebration draws To A Close
BATU KAWAN, July 20 (Bernama) -- The national-level 2025 National Unity Week (SMP) celebrations, which have been taking place in full swing since Thursday at the Batu Kawan Stadium grounds, are set to come to a close this evening. After four vibrant days, the final day of the event continues to offer an exciting array of activities beginning as early as 6.30 am with Zumba and traditional dance-based fitness sessions. The morning line-up includes Larian Kembara Ilmu and Fun Unity Run, followed by a multicultural traditional costume showcase at the main stage starting at 9 am. For younger visitors, the popular 'Didi & Friends' musical show will be held in two sessions at noon and 2 pm, where children will also get to meet and greet their favourite animated characters. Fans of arts and culture can head to the main stage from 4 pm to enjoy the open boria (traditional musical theatre) competition. There are also a variety of engaging activities lined up at the mini stages dedicated to foodunites, entrepreneurship, Rumah KAMI (ethnic houses), and exhibition booths. Activities include a spice identification contest, classic costume showcases, and entrepreneurship talks. Visitors will also get to witness demonstrations of traditional ethnic attire and performances, offering deeper insights into Malaysia's rich cultural diversity. Members of the public still have the opportunity to join in the celebration of this third national-level edition of SMP, which follows previous editions in Kuching (2023) and Johor (2024), before it officially concludes at 6 pm today. Held under the theme "Harmony in Diversity", SMP 2025 features over 40 key programmes including 22 Rumah KAMI exhibitions, ethnic village displays representing Kadazan Dusun and Orang Asli communities, cultural showcases, traditional games, Foodunites stalls, the Malaysia Tanah Airku exhibition, and Unity Entrepreneurs' Market. In conjunction with the event, direct public services were also made available, including traffic summons discounts from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Road Transport Department (JPJ), as well as reduced compound fines from local authorities like the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP).
Barnama
3 days ago
- Barnama
SMP 2025: History Comes Alive For Kids With 'Kurator Cilik'
By Siti Azila Alias BATU KAWAN, July 19 (Bernama) -- The Department of Museums Malaysia (JMM) has introduced a unique and educational experience called 'Kurator Cilik' (Little Curator) in conjunction with the 2025 National Unity Week (SMP) celebration held at the grounds of Stadium Batu Kawan, here. Part of the department's 'Susur Masa' (Time Trail) exhibition, Kurator Cilik targets young visitors, particularly primary and secondary school students, offering them a hands-on opportunity to experience life as a professional archaeology curator. Assistant Curator of the Exhibition and Development Division at JMM, Noor Wahida Hasan, said the programme was not a typical museum activity, but rather an education module based on the national school syllabus, crafted to be practical and interactive. The experience is divided into two components — excavation and conservation — reflecting two key aspects of archaeological curation. 'Excavation involves fieldwork — research and discovery — and here we simulate the real thing. We provide them with basic tools such as gloves and hats so they can feel what it's like to be in the field, while also introducing them to the curator profession,' she told Bernama. 'Many children are familiar with jobs like doctors or engineers, but when I mention 'curator', it's something they've never heard of. This programme is meant to spark their interest in this field,' she said. For the conservation section, participants learn how to handle replicas of artifacts such as the 'Perak Man', assess their condition, and perform basic restoration techniques on pottery and ceramics — mimicking the real process before an artifact is displayed in a museum. 'Today is the highlight of Kurator Cilik — we're bringing in a replica of a dinosaur fossil for excavation. Stocks are limited, and the lucky few may even get to take a dinosaur home,' she added.
