M.Krishnamoorthy
A media coach, adjunct professor and author
In 1965, during my Secondary Form Three December holidays, I participated in a multiracial homestay programme and learned to better understand the different races.
This was about 60 years ago when the Education Ministry introduced a scheme where families of different races hosted students of different races from different states. A few years later this programme was abolished. Shockingly, a programme that united races was stopped.
I, an Indian from Petaling Jaya stayed with a Malay family in Kuala Selangor and the outcome was that I got to understand a different race, culture and religious beliefs of the Malays. All my friends enjoyed the two-week stay with their foster families of different races.
It is time the Unity Ministry work with the Education Ministry to introduce such inter-racial harmony programmes to foster the spirit of being cosmopolitan Malaysian.
Last week at the KL Wesley School Unity Day launch, Deputy Unity Minister K.Saraswathy said the Ministry supported events that bring closer brotherhood between all walks of life in this country.
She pointed out that it involved the cooperation of students of various races, especially in making a performance a success.
“A programme like this is very important in strengthening the bonds between all levels of society in this country,” she said at the 2024 Unity Day celebration at Wesley Methodist International School in Kuala Lumpur.
“The main objective of organising this program is to foster the spirit of unity among the multi-racial community in this school and in addition to establishing scientific relationships between private schools and government schools (National Schools and National Secondary Schools) around Kuala Lumpur.
Saraswathy said the National Unity Policy that has been developed has 3 Main Cores namely:
- First Core – Patriotism and Democracy;
- Second Core – National Identity; and
- Third Core – Unity Ecosystem.
“Apart from that, the National Unity Policy is also supported by the National Unity Blueprint 2021-2030 which sets the vision of national unity. Meanwhile, the National Unity Action Plan (PTPN) 2021-2025 translates the goals, objectives and strategies of the National Unity Policy in the form of implementation through clear programs and actions.
“I am interested in the theme of the school's Unity Day celebration this time which is ‘Wesleyans, Civil Ambassadors of Unity’. The MADANI concept introduced by our Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has six core values which are Sustainability, Well-being, Creativity, Respect, Confidence and Kindness. I believe that the spirit of unity built through the concept of MADANI will strengthen the unity among the people of our country who are made up of various religions, races and ethnicities.
“The task of making students as Civilian Ambassadors of Unity is a responsibility that needs to be carried out collectively. Several steps can be taken to realise the wish as follows,” Saraswathy said.
- Students need to be exposed to religion, culture, heritage, way of life and other matters related to other races in Malaysia;
- Students need to learn to respect differences in culture, language and religion, as well as appreciate the uniqueness of each community group; and
- Students need to get involved in student exchange programs between schools in the state and abroad.
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (www.imkrishna.net) is a media coach, adjunct professor and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German and Australian Television networks and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns.
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