{
  "id": 8859995,
  "title": "2027 Budget: National Unity Ministry seeks RM550.7mil for six programmes aimed at nation building",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/2027-budget-national-unity-ministry-seeks-rm550-7mil-for-six",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T06:18:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1537535/2027-budget-national-unity-ministry-seeks-rm5507mil-six-programmes"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: The National Unity Ministry is seeking RM550.7 million in Budget 2027 to fund six initiatives designed to foster national unity and identity. Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, the ministry's minister, confirmed the request would be discussed with the Finance Minister. The six programs center on National Unity and Identity, Community Harmony, preserving Malaysia's heritage, digitalising national treasures, upgrading relevant facilities, and providing matching grants to museums, archives, and libraries.\n\nAaron spoke after launching the Malaysia Storytelling Festival 2026 at the National Library. He explained that programs under the National Unity and Identity initiative would include the Gerak Integrasi Perpaduan, Rukun Negara Youth Tour, Jalinan Integrasi Nasional, Citra Nusa Muzium, museum exhibitions, Semarak Advokasi Arkib, Nadi Budaya Ilmu, and Digital Library Conference. The Community Harmony initiative would see the implementation of Progressive Kawasan Rukun Tetangga and Community Mediator programs.\n\nThe ministry seeks funding to upgrade unity-related facilities, such as Unity Kindergartens (Tabika Perpaduan), archives, and village libraries. With 506 village libraries nationwide, 10 memorials, and 22 museums under the Museums Department, the 2027 Budget allocation would digitalise these facilities and collections. The six areas under consideration for funding next year are the focus of the ministry's 2027 Budget request.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The National Unity Ministry will seek RM550.7 million under Budget 2027 to implement six key programmes aimed at nation-building.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : Budget 2027: National Unity Ministry Seeks RM550.7 Million For Six Key Programmes Aimed At Nation Building - Aaron",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/general-budget-2027-national-unity-ministry-seeks-rm550-7-million-for",
        "published": "2026-09-21T05:15:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}