Kuala Lumpur: The sophistication of any city is measured by the harmony, prosperity, and social justice afforded to its citizens and not merely based on towering skyscrapers and grand infrastructure, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territory) Dr Zaliha Mustafa. She emphasized that it was meaningless if Kuala Lumpur had the highest skyscrapers in the region but its people struggled with daily life, or if the city was recognized globally while neglecting cleanliness and social harmony.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Zaliha highlighted that no satisfaction should stem from a city’s economic status if the mentality and civic consciousness of its population remained weak. She referred to the MADANI civilization concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, where physical progress must be balanced with human values and the prosperity of its people. Her statements were made during her speech at the Harmonious Federal Territories Day 2025 celebration and the Harmony Procession at Dataran Merdeka, which National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang also attended.
To achieve such a civilization, Dr Zaliha noted that the country required policies and initiatives with significant impacts on the people. For the Federal Territories, several measures have been put in place to ensure the strengthening of social prosperity. She mentioned the success in 2024 of lifting 99.9 percent of the hardcore poor from poverty through various assistance, including empowering heads of households to engage in business.
As ASEAN chair and in conjunction with the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026, the Federal Territories will play a crucial role in presenting the country’s image of harmony, progress, and unity. Aaron Ago Dagang added that the National Unity Ministry introduced the theme ‘Harmony in Diversity’ and the MADANI Harmony Initiative to strengthen harmony in Malaysia’s multiracial and multireligious society. This initiative is implemented by highlighting ‘Understand, Respect and Acceptance,’ which form the basis of national integration to promote understanding and respect towards the diversity of cultures and religions.
Aaron emphasized that the initiative is capable of boosting unity and national integration based on the Federal Constitution and the Rukun Negara.