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Sunday, September 4, 2022

POOR POLITICAL LITERACY AMONG YOUTHS

Political Literacy among Youths: A Never Ending Discourse | Malaysian Students' Global Allianve

Undi18: How Malaysian youths can become better voters in GE15

EDUCATION institutions should play a more active role in helping youths be more politically literate.

Political literacy, when honed in the groves of academe especially, would enable youths to make more informed voting decisions at the polls.

As it stands, a recent study by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Social and Policy Studies (TCLC) found that Malaysian youths mainly acquired their political knowledge from family and friends.

These two groups, the study found, significantly influenced the youths' voting decisions.

ALSO READ: Study: Malaysian youths rely on family and friends for GE15 voting advice

TCLC chairman Dr Chin Yee Mun said poor political literacy is partly to be blamed for this lack of independent thought among young voters.

Higher education institutions (HEIs), he said, should take on the mantle of getting youths to be more politically literate.

“HEIs are supposed to be the centre to build critical thinking individuals who will eventually be wise and responsible citizens.

Chin: Poor political literacy is partly to be blamed for the lack of independent thought among young voters.Chin: Poor political literacy is partly to be blamed for the lack of independent thought among young voters.“>>

Such aspiration is enshrined in most HEIs' vision. Imparting knowledge and creating experience that is related to politics are part of the pathways to build such citizens,” he told StarEdu.

HEIs, he suggested, should start creating subjects that specifically educate youths about politics and the election process.“Such a subject should be made compulsory.

At the same time, activities that encourage students to be responsible voters should be carried out by various clubs and societies in HEIs,” he said, while calling on HEIs to organise more forums and conferences to discuss national and international political issues.

Most local universities, according to the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (Mapcu), include political literacy discussions in the various General Studies modules which all students are required to take.

Mapcu president Datuk Dr Parmjit Singh, however, noted that the discussions are carried out sensitively so as “not to encourage the sort of polemics that could lead to disharmony”.

“The focus is on strengthening students’ sense of citizenship and ensuring that students can make sense of fundamental principles such as parliamentary democracy, rule of law, separation of powers, elections, and the first-past-the-post system,” he said.

Parmjit echoed Chin’s view that HEIs should educate youths so that they can be more independent in their voting decisions.

Parmjit: It’s important that students receive early exposure to political literacy.>>

“Universities and colleges can play a role in developing political literacy among students by ensuring that they are well-equipped with the ability to critically evaluate the options available to them and to make informed, mature decisions amid all the information and misinformation that they are constantly exposed to, particularly in social circles and on social media.

“This thought process is a natural outcome of university education,” he said.Improving political literacy among youths is even Parmjit: It’s important that students receive early exposure to political literacy.Parmjit: It’s important that students receive early exposure to political literacy.more pertinent now with Undi18.

The constitutional amendment, which came into force last year, lowers the minimum voting age and age of candidacy from 21 to 18. The law also introduces automatic voter registration.

Following the implementation of Undi18, over 450,000 students in HEIs will be eligible to vote in the upcoming elections.

ALSO READ: N Noraini: Committee to prep students for GE15

This is about 38% of the 1.2 million students in the country’s HEIs, according to the Higher Education Ministry.Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, on Jan 27, said the ministry has a role to play in preparing students from a political point of view.

“Based on a study the ministry conducted last year, varsity students’ political literacy can be improved by consolidating and strengthening their appreciation of existing policies and Acts.

“The ministry is collaborating with other government departments and agencies to raise students’ awareness (of political matters) as they prepare to become voters,” she said.

Malaysia is expected to see almost 23 million eligible voters in the 15th General Election (GE15), an increase from the 15 million for GE14.

Early exposure necessary

Given that the minimum voting age has been lowered, it’s also worth considering an earlier exposure to political systems and election processes for students.

Parmjit said this could begin when youths are in their formative teenage years.

“It is important that students receive this sort of exposure even before they enter university or college.

"In this regard, schools, particularly at the secondary level, need to play a role in sowing the seeds of political literacy,” he said.

If it’s up to Chin, though, the learning process should begin at an even earlier stage.

“There should be a dedicated subject to educate Malaysians on politics at the primary school level.

"Currently, such knowledge is built into the syllabus through the teaching of Bahasa Melayu, English, Moral Education and History subjects,” he said.

The current syllabus taught at the primary school level, according to Chin, concentrates mostly on the Malaysian political system but it’s “simply not enough”.

Nisa: Youths need to be more proactive in seeking out political knowledge on their own.Nisa: Youths need to be more proactive in seeking out political knowledge on their own.>>

“While this information is important, other aspects of political education should be inserted too. They should be taught what politics is and how it functions.

“Similarly, they should be exposed to the various political systems that are practised around the world,” he said.

Political education, Chin said, should be taught as a standalone subject.

He added that as students advance to secondary school, more complex topics – such as political sociology and political science – can be taught.

“The inclusion of critical thinking skills via these disciplines will make the study of the Malaysian political system interesting and useful,” he said.

Undi18 programme associate Nisa Muzamir Shah also believes that political literacy should be instilled at the primary level.

“We need to amend the syllabus to equip students as young as 13 years old with essential modules related to democracy to better prepare them for Undi18.

“We definitely need to revamp our education syllabus to introduce fundamental topics on politics and democracy. There needs to be a committee that oversees the process to ensure that these syllabi are not biased.

“On this point, teachers should also be equipped with sufficient training to allow critical thinking and encourage healthy political discourse in classes,” she said.

Learn as they go

While formal education is certainly important, it’s not the be-all and end-all of political literacy.

Educationist and Universiti Malaya former professor of education Tan Sri Dr T. Marimuthu said developing political maturity happens over a long period.

Educationist and Universiti Malaya former professor of education Tan Sri Dr T. Marimuthu said developing political maturity happens over a long period of time. - Filepic

It isn’t something that one merely learns within the confines of a lecture hall – or a classroom, for that matter.

“What you get in the classroom is just information. What is more important is that youths are able to differentiate between what is good what is not,” he said.

Und18’s Nisa said youths need to be more proactive in seeking out political knowledge on their own.

Information is easily accessible and research is made easy with so many resources available, she said.

“They need to train themselves to view a particular issue from different perspectives in order to come up with a well-thought-out solution and to be able to have empathy on how certain policies or regulations could be disadvantageous or oppressive to some groups of people,” she said.

What’s important is that youths should feel that they have a say in political decisions.

“Every vote counts in our democratic system. We get to choose the people who represent us in Parliament and who advocate for and address the issues we care about,” she said.

Aira: Youths must exercise their voting rights.

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) senior manager of research Aira Azhari agrees that youths must exercise their voting rights.Aira: Youths must exercise their voting rights.Aira: Youths must exercise their voting rights.>>

Youths, she said, must realise that being allowed to vote in an election is a basic human right in global democracies.

That said, Marimuthu believes that youths can always learn about politics as they go.

When youths first cast their ballots at age 18, they are still new to the game.

“At this point, they are novices just starting to get a feel of politics. They are bound to be influenced by those around them. But that is not a bad thing.“They are coming into the political arena, and they will make a difference if they exercise their rights to vote.

“As they grow up, they will be more politically mature,” he concluded.

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Thursday, September 1, 2022

Dear Malaysia, stop the corrupt policies of absolute powers that corrupt absolutely !

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah AOTan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah AO

Dear Malaysia - Wednesday, 31 Aug 2022

This year, we mark our 65th National Day and 59th Malaysia Day. I would like to take this opportunity to continue the conversation we started last year by penning some thoughts on our beloved nation.

We live in a time of extreme uncertainty. Even as Malaysia and the world transition into the endemic phase, Covid-19 still poses a threat. Tensions between the United States and China have escalated, while the war in Ukraine has disrupted global supply chains.

Inflation is soaring and the widening income inequality is reversing decades of hard-earned progress.

Given these global headwinds, it is even more pertinent that we as Malaysians get our act together, fast, if we are to overcome these challenges

We have to take a hard look at where we are today, where we want to go and how we intend to get there.

Let me highlight some positive developments that have happened over the past 12 months.

For example, the historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was signed by the Prime Minister and the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition is beginning to bear fruit in terms of reforming our political system.

The anti-party hopping law has been gazetted. A political financing bill will soon be tabled. Parliament is growing in independence as it plays its check-and-balance role.

But even more crucial is the out-of-the-box thinking that led to the MoU and introduced the concept of “compete and collaborate” into our political system. It provided a sense of stability that greatly helped the governance of the country. We need more such ideas in order to move forward.

The government did well to cushion the harshest impact of the rising cost of living for Malaysians, especially for those in the B40 category.

But it has come at a huge and, clearly, unsustainable cost: almost RM80bil in subsidies.

While these stop-gap measures have provided temporary aid, what we really need is a set of cohesive, coherent and coordinated long-term policies that can raise productivity levels and the rakyat’s income.

In the words of the late Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu, “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they are falling in.”

However, like many of my fellow Malaysians, I worry that some in power appear to be more focused on politics, rather than policies.

We are all aware of the obstacles we face in trying to build a brighter, more progressive, more inclusive and more sustainable future for our country.

Let me share some of them. It is crucial that we acknowledge the pressing need to strengthen our national unity. Our diversity is a strength that enriches us as a nation, not something that divides us.

We must all do what we can to clean up the toxicity that influences our conversations on race, religion and culture.

And then, there is education. It is no secret that our education system needs a massive overhaul. Unless we urgently address this challenge, we will doom our children and our country to a future of poverty and misery.

In a globalised world, the competition our children face will come not just from the student at the next desk, but from far beyond our borders.

In this context, I am concerned to learn that the command of English among young Malaysians is on the decline.

Obviously, Bahasa Malaysia is our national language and we should know it, but we are a trading nation and English is the language of trade and commerce. A lack of fluency in English may well pose a major hurdle in our efforts to build a prosperous Malaysia.

In fact, the more languages we are fluent in, the more opportunities we can explore in this globalised world.

The perception is that corruption has now become endemic in this country. I do not need to go into specific details. You are all aware of the issues and the scandals. Unless we seriously root out corruption, we are in trouble.

Like how cancer attacks a body from within, corruption is a disease that can destroy a country and a society from the inside out.

Allowing corruption to go unchecked is like injecting poison into a body. Corruption is a two-way street involving a giver and a taker.

Battling it will require not only strong laws implemented without fear or favour, but also a change in mindset and culture among all of us. How exactly do we achieve this?

The recent decisions by the courts on corruption cases have sparked hope. The judiciary’s upholding of its institutional integrity is a huge step forward in this war against corruption.

Let us bear in mind that even as we address these political and socio-economic issues, we do so at a time when climate change threatens the very survival of humanity.

Implementing the sustainable development agenda is no longer an option, but an urgent imperative.

The path has already been charted for us. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, adopted by the United Nations in 2015, lay out a holistic and comprehensive roadmap.

But realising the 17 SDGs is not the role of governments alone.

It requires the commitment of every element of society – the private sector, academia, civil society and every single one of us.

We are all in this together.

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah AO

A concerned citizen of Malaysia

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Dear Malaysia - Tuesday, 31 Aug 2021

My fellow Malaysians

As a third-generation Malaysian of Chinese heritage who was raised in Pusing, Perak, and an entrepreneur who owes a great debt of gratitude to my country for the opportunities it has given me, I would like to share some thoughts on building a more progressive, inclusive and sustainable future for all under the Malaysian sun.

We wake up today marking our 64th National Day and, soon, will mark our 58th Malaysia Day on Sept 16.

Notice that I said “mark” and not “celebrate.” The reason is obvious: more than 15,000 Malaysian lives lost to Covid-19; more than 1.6 million of our Malaysian family infected; millions more reeling from the impact to their livelihoods; a rising number of Malaysians taking their own lives due largely to factors associated with the pandemic; schools closed; and lockdowns, masks and physical distancing.

And to add to our troubles, a political crisis that has witnessed Malaysia having three prime ministers in three years.

I do not need to dwell on the details. We are all only too aware of the grim reality.

Malaysia is at a tipping point, which some may even liken to what happened on May 13, 1969. However, while May 13 posed a threat to the very existence of what was a much younger Malaysia, the crisis sparked by the pandemic is of a very different nature.

The only similarity, in my view, is that once again it is up to us to decide on how we overcome the challenge – an opportunity to take a hard look at where we are today as a nation, where we want to go, and how we get there. In short, we need to have a national conversation within our Malaysian family based on civility and mutual respect.

My fellow Malaysians

Let’s begin with a discussion on how we can eradicate the virus of racism in our society. Let us acknowledge that Malaysia’s rich diversity of races, ethnicities, cultures, religions and even cuisines is a strength for us to leverage, not a barrier that divides us. Let us break down these walls between us.

In this respect, the one silver lining that gives me hope amidst these dark days is witnessing how Malaysians are rising above race and religious lines to help not just their neighbours but even total strangers in their time of need.

That this outreach is driven largely by civil society groups comprising young people of all races indicates to me that perhaps the current generation is moving beyond the “us-versus-them” mentality that has dominated much of our lives over the past four decades or so.

Let us also use this opportunity to discuss the reforms we need to put in place to build the Malaysia that each and everyone of us wants. The post-May 13 blueprint may have served its purpose back then, although my personal opinion is that while the policies were drawn up with good intentions, the implementation went somewhat off-track soon after.

But that was a different time. We cannot overcome the challenges of the Digital Age using analogue mind-sets. We now have an opportunity to thoroughly re-examine the various factors that define our daily lives.

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah AO

They include, for instance, the economy: How do we promote an economy based on innovation, digital tools, competition and meritocracy, one where “know-how” matters more than “know who”?

Then there is education. It is obvious that our current education system is failing our children. We need to urgently re-examine how we teach, what we teach and even where we teach. In a globalised world, our children face competition not just from the student at the next desk, but from those far beyond our borders. If we do not prepare them correctly, we doom them and our country to a bleak and poverty-ridden future.

Let’s move on next to governance. Restoring the integrity of our institutions is of fundamental importance. I do not want to sound like an old uncle always talking about how much better it was in the old days. But the fact remains that there was a time when Malaysia was held in high esteem internationally for a judiciary noted for its independence and integrity, the efficiency of our civil service, the provision of public healthcare and a Parliament that sought to play its role as a check and balance on the Executive.

And then there is the issue of corruption. Need I say more? Unless we seriously root out corruption, we are in trouble. I am not naive enough to believe that we can eradicate corruption completely. No country has done so. But we must, at the very least, reduce it from a cancer in society to just a sore thumb.

Corruption, of course, is a two-way street involving a giver and a taker. Battling it will require not only strong laws implemented without fear or favour, but also a change in mind-set and culture among all of us. How exactly do we achieve this?

The recent accord reached between our Prime Minister and leaders of the Pakatan Harapan opposition on these issues, if followed through, offers hope that we may once again restore pride in our institutions and progress as a nation.

My fellow Malaysians

We began our journey in 1957 with hopes and aspirations. We suffered the tragedy of May 13 even before Malaysia had reached its teens. The nation matured in its adulthood in the years that followed. The country is now past its middle age – a time when hard-earned experience and wisdom can be our guide.

I believe that all of us as individuals must have a higher purpose in life. For me, that higher purpose is a commitment to nation-building and to giving back to society.

An optimist by nature, I have a deep faith this higher purpose is also shared by all of you and that together, we can overcome the challenges we face and build a Malaysia that our children can be proud of.

In this effort, we should all be guided by our Rukun Negara, which represents the soul of our nation.

As it says on our national motto: Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu. Loosely translated as “Unity is Strength.”

We are all in this together.

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah AO

A concerned citizen of Malaysia

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INDEPENDENCE DAY - August 31, 2022 - National Today

Malaysia Independence Day, also known as National Day or ‘Hari Merdeka’ in Malay is observed on August 31 and commemorates the Malayan Declaration of Independence of 31 August 1957. It is defined in Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia as the official independence day when it gained its freedom from the British colonial administration. Usually, the celebrations start from the beginning of August with various programs and national competitions. Owing to the celebrations, the month of August is also known as the National Month.

HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE DAY The efforts for the independence of Malaysia were headed by the first Malaysian prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. He led a delegation of ministers and political leaders of Malaya to negotiate with the British for independence.

When the threat of a communist revolt, posed during the Malayan Emergency gradually became less, an agreement was reached on February 8, 1956, for Malaysia to gain independence from the British Empire. But due to some logistical and administrative reasons, their actual independence was declared in the following year on August 31, 1957.

On the night of August 30, 1957, crowds gathered at Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur to witness the handover of power from the British. At the stroke of midnight, the Union Jack in the square was lowered. The new Flag of Malaysia was raised as the national anthem Negaraku was played. This was followed by seven chants of “Merdeka” by the crowd.

IINDEPENDENCE DAY TIMELINE

1948 Malayan Emergency The British declare a state of emergency after the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) attempts to overthrow the colonial government and establish a communist republic.

1956 Treaty of London The Treaty of London 1956 is signed to set up the independent Federation of Malaya.

Independence from Britain The Federation of Malaya is granted independence from Britain after 50 years of colonial rule.

1963 Federation of Malaysia The Federation of Malaysia, comprising the states of the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore is officially declared.

INDEPENDENCE DAY FAQS

What is the difference between Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day? Malaysia Day is on September 16 and marks the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. Hari Merdeka is celebrated on 31 August as the original independence day of Malaysia.

Who brought Islam to Malaysia? Islam is thought to have been brought to Malaysia around the 12th century by Indian traders. In the early 15th century the Malacca Sultanate, commonly considered the first independent state in the peninsula, was founded.

What does ‘Merdeka’ mean? Merdeka is a word in the Indonesian and Malay language, meaning ‘independent’ or ‘free.’

HOW TO OBSERVE MALAYSIA INDEPENDENCE DAY

1.Take part in the annual Merdeka Parade

The national day parade is all about decorated cars, royal inspection, flag raising, recitation of the ‘Rukun Negara,’ and cultural and patriotic performances. You can experience the culture of Malaysia by watching the parade live or watch the Merdeka celebrations on TV.

2. Organize your own activities

You can even organize an event or different activities to inspire the spirit of patriotism and love for the country. A national speech competition, a Merdeka poetry contest, or a photography competition are some ideas to help you get started!

3. Decorate your homes

Decorate your home and vehicle with flags. Flags and decorations can be seen all over the country. There are even neighborhood decorating competitions, too.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT MALAYSIA’S NATIONAL ANTHEM

1.Malaysia had no national anthem At the time of independence, Malaysia did not have a national anthem.

2. Worldwide competition to find an anthem Tunku Abdul Rahman decided to organize a worldwide competition to find a suitable national anthem for Malaysia and 512 entries were submitted.

3. It is originally the state anthem of Perak In the end, Rahman opted to use the Perak State anthem’s melody for the Malaysian national anthem.

4. It was rearranged The anthem was rearranged to give it a livelier rhythm, which was unpopular with the citizens — in 2003, the tempo was returned to what it was originally.

5.It has two versions There exists a full version of the anthem as well as a shorter version.

WHY MALAYSIA INDEPENDENCE DAY IS IMPORTANT

A. It inspires the spirit of patriotism

It is the day when Malaysia gained independence from the British Empire. This day, on the one hand, demonstrates the significance of freedom and, on the other hand, it unites the whole nation under one flag.

B. It acts as historical and cultural symbolism

Any nation that possesses certain symbols feels pride in owning and celebrating them. The day bears historical and cultural importance and people celebrate it to demonstrate the significance of freedom.

C. It fosters love and responsibility for the country

The day presents an opportunity to relearn the philosophy behind the formation of Malaysia and cultivate a sense of love and responsibility for the country.

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