Social Phenomena Nov 2022

Cross Cultural Activities

B.N. Lee

Abstract

This paper discusses the young generation being encouraged to get involved in
cross-cultural activities so that they better understand the culture and traditions of
other races. This exposure is important because the experience cannot be obtained
through textbooks but must be experienced by oneself. When a person understands
other people's culture, they can avoid suspicion and promote the spirit of tolerance.
Because if we don't understand we tend to mock other people's culture. When we
understand the essence of other people's culture, it can create understanding.
Through this understanding, then we can give birth to a society living in peace. We
don't need to feel anxious about the other races around.

Introduction

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said he would
submit to the Cabinet a proposal to make cross-cultural modules a subject in all
schools in the country. The move is important to further foster the spirit of unity,
national integration and patriotism among people of various races, especially the
young generation. Without this diverse and cross-cultural education, students are
likely not to recognize their identity and the needs of other ethnic groups and may
indirectly cause racial issues to arise at the school level. "I will present this matter
(proposed cross-cultural module as a subject) in the Cabinet meeting this Monday
(August 8). We will work on the details of this module later," he told reporters after
completing the Closing Ceremony of the Rukun Negara Club Cross Cultural Camp
2016 at the Bumi Jati Camp here yesterday.

The four-day camp started on August 1, 2016, with the participation of 200 teachers
and multi-racial students from 22 selected schools across the country. The program
organized by the Department of National Unity and National Integration also got the
cooperation of the Ministry of Education and Universiti Putra Malaysia. Without these
values, an individual may not be able to feel the sensitivity of other races, therefore,
the aspect of cross-cultural understanding in education needs to be emphasized
because students in school actually live in groups of multiple races, cultures and
religions. In the meantime, the emphasis in the cross-cultural module is not only to
understand the culture and customs between races, but it also takes into account
aspects of nationhood as well as community identity and morals to produce a
generation that has good manners, character and tolerance.

Appreciation of the principles of national principles should be used as the basis for
the formation of the character of students at school. Today's technological
sophistication such as the Internet and smartphone applications can contribute to
the breakdown of relationships in multiracial societies if not used wisely and
responsibly (Bernama, 2016).

Titian Hari Gawai Integration Program with residents of Rumah Panjang Michael
Balo, Sepupuk Plan Scheme, this program was organized by the Department of
National Unity and National Integration (JPNIN) Sarawak on 6 July 2019 and
involved 78 students from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The member of the
 Social Phenomena Nov 2022

Bekenu State Assembly said, as an example of the practice of visiting during the
Gawai Dayak festival, the Muslim community in this state need not worry because
both races understand each other and know what needs to be done. In this context,
Junior Minister of Women, Family and Child Development Rosey Yunus praised
JPNIN's efforts in organizing the Titian Hari Gawai Integration Program with students
from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and the Federal Territories.

The students were lucky to be given the exposure and experience to see and feel for
themselves the experience of celebrating Gawai and seeing the community traditions
in Sarawak and this experience is not in a book. There used to be people who were
afraid of being assigned to Sarawak and asked if people here still lived on trees.
Therefore, this kind of program is very good for scraping the inaccurate perception
of outsiders. He hopes that this experience can be shared with their friends and
families when they return to their respective places.

The organization of programs involving students of higher education institutions

should be continued to strengthen their identity. Graduates from higher institutions
will become national leaders, so they need to have a strong identity in order to be
able to work anywhere. Also present were Sarawak State JPNIN Director Dirwana
Azool and his Deputy Esther Dingkawan and Tuai Rumah Michael Balo. The
ceremony was also enlivened with a ngajat performance, kumang and keling
competitions and cutting 'ranyai' (Utusan Borneo, 2019).

The opportunity to interact is limited among us as a result of the stagnant education

system and free association because there was never the existence of friendly
friendships that were forged during schooling, in fact it is a big problem that causes
us all to be insincere when we associate with each other to create a level of good
unity. This problem will decrease, and even disappear when our young people get to
know each other from elementary school. Therefore, our education system that
allows ethnic segregation that occurs at such a young age, should be overhauled. In
this regard, not only vernacular and religious schools are directly involved, national
schools are also no exception because they are supposed to supply national
education. Now national schools are found to provide more Malay Muslim education.

Therefore, there needs to be a restructuring of national schools, religious schools

and vernacular schools so that national education is given priority by all parties to
produce children of the nation who can show the same Malaysian national identity in
writing. This will definitely happen easily when national education that emphasizes
the Malay language, national history and traditional heritage in the form of cross-
cultural education, is the main basis of national education, instead of ethnic
education in vernacular schools and spiritual education in religious schools.

This social impact can definitely see the national identity applied in the personal
identity of young people after they receive the beliefs, values and aspirations of the
Malaysian national identity through the national education. This national identity
needs to be nurtured consciously and firmly in the country's education system. This
is important not only because it can foster feelings of attachment to the country, the
expression of national identity in the people is actually a positive attitude of
patriotism (Teo, 2016).

Malaysia is rich in cultural diversity, language, customs and religion. The outside
world often sees Malaysia as a model country of unity for the harmony and well-
 Social Phenomena Nov 2022

being of its people who are made up of various races and backgrounds. Cross culture
occurs when two or more individuals from different backgrounds interact.

These background differences include visible external cultures such as clothing,

appearance, language, customs, food and shelter. While intangible internal culture is
such as knowledge, beliefs, morals and life values. When this cultural difference is
understood, it will give birth to a positive and harmonious relationship (Johari, 2019).

Conclusion

With national education being given the most significant priority, as is the case in
many other countries' education systems, we will definitely see Malaysians who can
display a quick and easy identification with this country in their daily lives, that is,
fluent in Malay which is the national language and be simple in line with Malaysia as
a multi-racial country. With all this, we can now be considered a Malaysian national
community that has positive feelings towards the country, in addition to having a
sentiment of duty towards the welfare of all races in the three regions of the
Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak. The socialization of national identity through national
education will certainly contribute to the harmony and well-being of national unity
and national integration which is much needed in Malaysia.

References
1. Bernama. (August 6, 2016). Cross-cultural modules in subjects at school. Kuala
Lumpur: Bernama
2. Utusan Borneo. (July 7, 2019). The younger generation is encouraged to get
involved in cross-cultural activities. Niah: Utusan Borneo.
3. Teo Kok Seong. (Februari 19, 2016). Pendidikan silang budaya erat hubungan
kaum patut disegera. Kuala Lumpur: Berita Harian.
4. Johari Yap. (August 11, 2019). Cross cultures foster unity. Kuala Lumpur: Sinar
Harian.