By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
Photo credit: Perak State Secretary’s Office (SUK Perak)
IPOH: The people’s unity must be preserved as strong social bonds are among the most enduring guarantees of a country’s security, said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
He said after 69 years of independence, the main challenge was no longer to prove that people of different races, religions and backgrounds could live together in one country.
Instead, he said, the greater challenge was to ensure that differences never prevented Malaysians from standing together as one nation.
“Malaysia was never built from a society that was all the same. Malaysia was built from a diverse society that chose to live together.
“Our challenge is to ensure that these differences never prevent us from continuing to stand together as one nation,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the 2026 Perak State-level National Day Tea Reception and Prize-Giving Ceremony at Dewan Bandaran Ipoh here today.
Also present were Perak Sultan Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah and Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, as well as members of the royal family and dignitaries.
According to Saarani, a country’s peace does not depend solely on the sovereignty of its borders or the enforcement of laws.
Instead, he said, peace also depended on the strength of relationships and bonds among the people living in the same country.
He said these relationships must be nurtured every day through the way people communicate, manage differences and respect the foundations of living together.
“We stand under the same Jalur Gemilang. We uphold the same Federal Constitution.
“Bahasa Melayu is the National Language that connects us, while the institution of the monarchy continues to serve as a unifying pillar for all Malaysians,” he said.
Saarani also stressed that the spirit of togetherness should not be taken for granted as it could erode when differences in race, religion and social groups take precedence.
He said this could create divisions within society and obscure the values that had long united Malaysians.
“The vibrant National Day celebrations in Ipoh, attended by thousands of people, demonstrate that the spirit of love for the country remains strong.
“On this day, we do not see one another through the lens of race, religion or background. Instead, we come together with one shared identity as Malaysians.
“This spirit of togetherness must be practised in our daily lives to ensure that Perak remains peaceful, harmonious and prosperous,” he said.
