PETALING JAYA: Instilling the patriotic spirit among the younger generation, who may lack knowledge of the country’s history, is crucial to nation-building, say stakeholders.
As such, young people will be able to appreciate how this country came to be and the sacrifices of our past leaders through the Malaysia Madani Nationhood Training Module, they said.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon said the module will be a good opportunity for students to adopt patriotism in their daily lives and studies.
He said previously, there were co-curriculum activities and civics subjects that touched on such matters in a deeper way.
“This new module will help inculcate patriotism for the country, build identity and teach us to become good citizens while learning about the ... challenges ahead for the nation.
“I recently visited schools in Turkiye, and when the students there were asked about patriotism, they said patriotism is learnt at home and from their parents. In every school in that country, you will see pictures of the father of modern Turkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atartuk. So, in Malaysia, we have to promote unity, especially among the younger generation, so they understand the concept of nationhood and the multiculturalism of Malaysian society,” he said.
The Malaysia Madani Nationhood Training Module was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday.
The module is aimed at deepening Malaysians’ understanding of the nation’s history and to appreciate the contributions of past leaders and fighters.
Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the module should include input and recommendations from stakeholders.
The Alliance for Safe Community founder and chairman said this was to ensure that the module would be able to achieve its objectives. “We must build a strong sense of patriotism and love for the country among the young. These elements will help strengthen the patriotic spirit among future generations,” he added.
Lee said he had recently seen a video where several youth were asked to identify Malaysia’s past leaders, especially those who had fought for the country’s independence, and many could not.
National Society of Skilled Workers secretary-general Mohammad Rizan Hassan said the new module can help foster the spirit of unity, pride and responsibility among youth.
“Knowledge about Malaysia’s history, culture and values can help youth develop a deeper appreciation of our country,” he said.
