By Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Alliance for a Safe Community Chairman
KOTA KINABALu: Regaining the Malaysian spirit is a necessary pre-requisite to ensure a solid and common future for all Malaysians.
It was that spirit that brought all the races together in our struggle for independence and provided the backbone for our subsequent progress and development.
It is therefore timely to introduce a programme to deepen the people’s understanding, particularly the young generation, of past sacrifices by our founding fathers in the hope of propagating that ethos.
The Nationhood Training Module, as it is known, is meant to draw strength from our past to meet future challenges.
A strong sense of patriotism transcends differences in ethnicity, religion, and culture while promoting a collective identity that binds citizens together.
Patriotism also fuels a sense of responsibility towards the nation’s progress and development.
Embracing patriotism often involves celebrating and preserving our rich cultural heritage. This includes traditions, languages, arts, and historical landmarks.
To revive the patriotic spirit among Malaysians, several approaches can be adopted.
Adherence to the principles of Rukun Negara and practicing them is an essential step.
Education is another important step. Lessons from our past, our struggles, and the sacrifices of the early leaders in nation-building are essential.
But what is critical is that our current education system is giving our children the correct historical facts and emphasis.
I had recently seen a video that indicated that our schoolchildren have a dismal understanding of our history.
In it, a group of children were shown pictures of our past leaders, but they were unable to identify them, let alone know of their contributions and sacrifices for the nation.
On the other hand, they were very knowledgeable about current pop idols and entertainers.
The young are our hope for the future and should therefore be given the opportunity to imbibe and propagate the spirit of the past.
The Madani Nationhood Training Module should include community events, forums, and cultural events that celebrate Malaysian identity and diversity.
It should use traditional and social media to promote positive narratives of Malaysia’s achievements, including how individuals—politicians, academics, businessmen, civil society, and members of the armed forces—have sacrificed their time, energy, and resources to keep us safe and moving forward.
By implementing these strategies, we can cultivate a renewed sense of patriotism that transcends differences and unites the diverse population—in the Peninsular, Sabah, and Sarawak—towards a shared vision of a prosperous and harmonious nation.
