Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim today called on all members of the ministry staff to be more committed in fulfilling the demands of the 1Malaysia concept next year.

The spirit of solidarity among the staff of the ministry must continue to be developed because the agency had a very important mission and vision, he said when launching the ministry's carnival in conjunction with the 2012 new year eve celebration at the Dataran Merdeka.

This was because the ministry had succeeded in uniting the various races in the country through various festivals in the past, he said.

Also present were his wife, Masnah Rais, the ministry's secretary-general Kamaruddin Siaraf and Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong.

More than 3,000 staff from the 18 agencies under the ministry were present at the carnival.

Earlier, Rais and other leaders joined the other participants in performing the aerobics for 20 minutes.

Speaking to reporters later, the minister said the carnival, which was being held for the first time, would be expanded to other states like Perak, Johor and Selangor.

The climax of the celebration would be the 'Konsert Ambang 2012' beginning at 9pm which would feature famous local artistes such as M Nasir, Jamal Abdillah, Awie and Faizal Tahir.

- Bernama