Challenges in order to implement values among younger generation in malaysia

Malaysia is an incredibly diverse country comprising many different ethnicities, languages and religions. People from each ethnicity has generally retained their ancestor’s cultural customs. As a result, Malaysian society holds a rich variety of lifestyles, beliefs and values. It is an undeniable fact whereby an advanced society is closely related to the practice of patriotism which is important in shaping the society in a country. History of Malaysia upholds that the struggle to set free their homeland is due to the strong practice of values and the spirit to be a good citizen themselves. The struggle faced by Tok Janggut and his peers of the 19th century until the time of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj to get our nation the independence that has been long waited for are remarkable. The history of the rise of the nation from colonialism in order to build a free and independent country with the spirit of building a nation called Malaysia. However, as the country’s economy progresses and as our society becomes better-heeled, courtesy, lack of spirit, values and ethics seem to be taking a back seat as these values are the bedrock of a civilized society. Apart from that, a lot more remains to be done to instill these virtues among Malaysians, predominantly the young generations.

There are many challenges in order to implement values among younger generation. First and foremost, the major challenge is the low patriotic spirit and lacking in practice of values among the younger age of group people which are the inheritors of the future leader. Younger generations prefers to be individualistic and tend to give importance in their self-interest more than national interest. They are more concerned about their own race or ethnic group over other races and are willing to do anything to ensure that the people of the same race get what they want socially, economically and politically. A racial riot in Malaysia that occurred on May 13th, 1969 as there was a sense of not being satisfied with other races. This incident serves as a lesson to all races in Malaysia so as not to be too selfish or too concerned with their own kind, but instead to be concerned with national aspirations, though prejudice in a multiracial society is inevitable on the issues of identity, namely language, religion and culture. For instance, fostering racial unity in Malaysia might be mistaken by some as an attempt to expand the supremacy of Malay nationalism. If we are serious about wanting a better future for this nation and making this the best home for all, then we have to start thinking of ourselves as Malaysians and not whatever race or identity based on our forefathers homelands. Being Malaysian first doesn’t means we cease to be Malay, Indian, Chinese but that our identity is now firmly anchored to our nation.

In addition, the issue of racial and ethnic relations within various communities poses a challenge to implement the values. While many professions and commercial and industrial enterprises have become multi-ethnic compared to the situation four decades ago, non-formal interaction within the work place is still along ethnic lines. Besides, the level of multi-ethnic solidarity in the country’s education system is still low even though younger generations showed a positive attitude in multi-ethnic relations. The ethnic relations in higher education institutions are still weak whereby the students do not feel comfortable when conquering the same area, even if they know each other. This may be due to the taboos and their religious practices which differ that makes then unwillingly to do so.

The third challenge is language. Language plays an important role in forming unity. However, the use of Malay language among non-Malay is rather low. It is irrefutable element that the use of a single language in a country will form a solidarity and peace when people are using a similar language for interaction among the various races. Younger generations are more comfortable in using their mother tongue or English in their daily communication. They need to take pride in our National language, Bahasa Malaysia. Although the younger generations are capable of being fluent in multiple languages, yet they do not seem to take Bahasa Malaysia as a language that gives Malaysia a pride, and what’s more, it is one of the easiest language to grasp.