KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- Patriotism among Malaysia’s younger generation remains strong, but a key concern is their declining trust in existing systems, as well as changing ways of expressing love for the country in the digital age.
Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) president Mohd Izzat Afifi Abdul Hamid said young people’s love for the country should not be measured solely through traditional means such as flying the Jalur Gemilang, but should also be reflected in their support for the country and use of social media platforms to express their patriotism.
“I am confident and believe that young people still love the country and that their spirit of patriotism has never diminished. For example, if a conflict or something happens, young people still love the country, and the sentiment of defending the country remains strong,” he said.
He said this when he appeared as a guest on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme entitled “Merdeka: Between History, Identity and Malaysia’s Future” tonight.
However, Mohd Izzat Afifi said the development of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) also posed challenges as young people were increasingly exposed to inaccurate information that could influence their views of the country and the democratic system.
“The trend among young people now is about who can get information the fastest and who gets it first. They no longer think about whether the information is authentic or not, but this is not only a challenge for Malaysia; countries around the world are facing it too.
“This can actually affect their understanding of and trust in the country’s systems,” he said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Centre for Policy and Social Studies senior lecturer in Political Sociology Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the interpretation of independence differed according to the experiences and circumstances of each generation.
He said the generation that experienced the struggle for independence viewed freedom as the effort to liberate the country from colonial rule and determine its own government, while the post-independence generation experienced major changes through the processes of modernisation and industrialisation.
The National Language Council member also said independence today should be understood as an effort to strengthen freedom, national identity and the responsibility of every citizen in facing a borderless world.
“Malaysia’s diversity in terms of religion, ethnicity, beliefs, politics and identity should not be a barrier to unity, but instead should be seen as a strength and national treasure.
“That is where the true value of independence lies. How we instil the values of understanding, respect and acceptance, and have values that can foster unity, which relates to our independence, our unity and our Malaysia,” he said.
-- BERNAMA