KOTA KINABALU: The root of Sabah's struggle with national identity lies not in missing flag badges but in a flawed education system that has long neglected the state's own history, says heritage advocate Lai King Hang.
Lai, a long-time advocate for Sabah's history and the founder of the Sandakan Heritage Trail, said efforts to promote patriotism among students must go beyond symbolic requirements and begin with restoring the historical narrative of Sabah in schools.
“Sabah is not like the others—we helped form Malaysia in 1963. Yet, we are still taught as though we joined Malaysia later. That fundamental misunderstanding is a problem,” he told The Star.
He said many young Sabahans today are unaware of their identity as founding members of the Federation, largely due to the removal of local historical content from the syllabus since the mid-1960s. “It’s hard to feel a sense of belonging when you don’t know your own origin story,” he said.
Lai was responding to the March 25 directive by the Education Ministry requiring all students to wear the Jalur Gemilang badge on their uniforms from April 21 to instil national pride. While acknowledging the intention, he said such measures would fall flat without the deeper context of local identity.
“If patriotism is just about wearing a badge, it becomes an empty gesture. But if students know the sacrifices of our forefathers and the context of 1963, then that badge means something,” he said.
Lai noted that unlike Sarawak, which has its own Education, Innovation and Talent Development Ministry (MEITD), that allows greater autonomy over its curriculum, Sabah’s education affairs remain under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, with no direct control over what is taught in schools.
“This structure has made it harder for Sabah to push for the inclusion of our own history in classrooms. We’re relying on a federal system that isn’t tailored to our state’s unique role,” he added.
He called on the Sabah Education Department to take a more proactive approach by reintroducing state history and integrating heritage awareness into school programmes.
“There is still space to do this through co-curricular platforms—heritage clubs, student societies, guided historical trails, even local storytelling,” he said.
Citing his own work with the Sandakan Heritage Trail since 2003, Lai said schools have responded positively when allowed to engage in experiential learning tied to local history.
“We’ve seen how students’ eyes light up when they learn that their town, their street, has a place in national history.”
He said the trail, while often seen as a tourism product, was established with the goal of reviving historical awareness among youth. “It’s an educational tool first. We want young Sabahans to feel proud, not just of being Malaysian, but of their distinct role in building Malaysia,” he said.
Lai also warned that without urgent intervention, the next generation may lose all connection to Sabah’s historical roots. “Patriotism without memory is fragile. If we don’t restore that memory now, we’ll end up with a generation wearing flags but not knowing what they stand for.”
