Kuala lumpur: The government remains committed to preserving and honouring the legacy of national cultural icon, the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee, as a treasured artistic heritage that strengthens national unity and identity, National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said. He emphasized that P. Ramlee's works are not just a collection of films and songs; they represent a shared cultural legacy and collective memory that have shaped Malaysians' historical consciousness and national identity across generations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Aaron highlighted that P. Ramlee produced timeless works that transformed the local arts landscape and promoted the values of humanity and unity. Art, he pointed out, has the unique ability to unite people by creating a shared consciousness. It provides a common space where Malaysians of different races, religions, and cultural backgrounds can share emotions, values, and aspirations, fostering a common identity and strengthening social cohesion.
Aaron shared these sentiments at the opening of P. Ramlee Remembrance Week 2026 and the 100th anniversary of the Birthplace of P. Ramlee at the P. Ramlee Auditorium. The event was attended by Penang Governor Tun Ramli Ngah Talib and his wife, Toh Puan Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah.
In Malaysia's multicultural society, Aaron noted, art serves as a universal language that transcends racial, religious, and cultural boundaries, fostering empathy, a sense of belonging, and a shared national narrative. To ensure P. Ramlee's legacy endures, the National Archives of Malaysia has established two dedicated institutions: the Birthplace of P. Ramlee in Jalan P. Ramlee, Penang, and the P. Ramlee Memorial Library in Kuala Lumpur.
Built in 1926, the century-old house where P. Ramlee was born includes exhibits that recreate the living areas where he grew up and displays tracing his early life in Penang. The P. Ramlee Memorial Library, on the other hand, houses an extensive collection documenting his artistic career and contributions, including biographical materials, awards, artefacts, costumes, memorabilia, film collections, and exhibits on his wife, the late National Songbird Puan Sri Saloma.
Aaron said the three-day P. Ramlee Remembrance Week 2026 and the centenary celebration of his birthplace reflect the government's ongoing commitment to preserving the nation's artistic heritage. The programme features a historical forum on P. Ramlee's birthplace, Yasin and tahlil prayers in his memory, a public lecture titled Seni Dakwah Seniman (An Actor's Art of Dakwah), and the 100 Lamps exhibition.
These initiatives, Aaron added, not only safeguard the nation's cultural heritage and identity but also educate younger generations to appreciate history, strengthen national identity, and foster a stronger sense of unity. Meanwhile, Tun Ramli shared his personal memories of P. Ramlee, describing him as one of the few figures in Malaysian history to have left a profound impact on society.
He recalled being about nine or ten years old when he watched P. Ramlee perform during a touring show at an old hall in Teluk Anson, now Teluk Intan, Perak, in the early 1950s. Unable to get into the hall, he and his friends peered through gaps in the wooden walls, even prising off some old planks for a better view, though the sound caught the attention of the staff, who chased them away.
Tun Ramli also recounted a memory involving his wife, Raja Noora Ashikin, who met P. Ramlee in person when he visited the bank where she worked as a credit officer in early 1973 to apply for credit facilities.