National unity minister says mooncake innovations make festival distinctly Malaysian
National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said mooncake flavour innovations including durian, pandan and chocolate have given the Mooncake Festival a distinctly Malaysian character shared across ethnicities.
Source: BERNAMA · September 24, 2026 at 2:02 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceKUALA LUMPUR, 24 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said mooncake flavour innovations including durian, pandan and chocolate have given the Mooncake Festival a distinctly Malaysian character shared across ethnicities.
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"From traditional flavours such as lotus seed paste, red bean and salted egg yolk, we now have a wide range of innovations, including snow skin, pandan, chocolate, durian and other local flavours," Aaron said in a Facebook post today. "This diversity has made mooncakes part of a cultural experience everyone can share."
The festival falls tomorrow, the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Aaron said the celebration, a tradition dating back more than 2,000 years, embodies values of national unity: family, togetherness, harmony, gratitude and mutual appreciation. The full moon and the round shape of mooncakes have traditionally symbolised unity, wholeness and family togetherness, he said.
Aaron called on Malaysians to use the celebration to strengthen ties, promote mutual respect and gain a better understanding of one another's cultures. "May the full moon shine as a symbol of a Malaysia that remains united, harmonious and prosperous despite its diversity," he said.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally associated with the harvest season and symbolises family unity and reunion. Aaron said that when other communities understand, respect and share the cultural traditions linked to a celebration, they help build bridges among Malaysians and strengthen the country's national identity.
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