31/03/2025

MONDAY | MAR 31, 2025

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COMMENT By Sadina Suffian

Fostering patriotism through action O N April 21, students across Malaysia will add a new emblem to their uniforms – the Jalur Gemilang badge. particularly the Malay communities, it is the practice of rewang – a communal gathering where people cook, clean and prepare for major events together.

opportunities to contribute, collaborate and create change. Let us ask ourselves: What if every school incorporated community service into its curriculum – not as an optional club but as a core component of education? What if every university required students to participate in nationwide volunteer projects before graduation? What if corporate social responsibility efforts focused less on one-off donations and more on long-term community partnerships that involve young people at every stage? These are the questions that need answering. As we move forward, we must remember: A badge on a uniform may remind students of their identity but it is their actions that will define the nation they inherit. Malaysia’s youths are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the changemakers of today. They do not need reminders of their identity; they need avenues to shape it. So, instead of stopping at symbolic gestures, let us invest in programmes that allow them to see, feel and experience patriotism in its truest form. After all, a love for one’s country is not about what we wear; it is about what we do. Sadina Suffian is the treasurer of Bersih and COO of Team Selangor, an outfit under the menteri besar’s office, focusing on youth empowerment and volunteerism. Comments: letters@theundaily.com

as a vital force in nation-building. When young people roll up their sleeves and work together toward a common cause, they are not just learning about patriotism; they live it. They begin to see Malaysia not as an abstract entity but as a shared responsibility, where every action contributes to the well-being of the collective whole. Floods and rewangs Consider what happens when disaster strikes. In December 2021, when torrential floods devastated parts of Selangor and Pahang, thousands of families were left stranded, their homes submerged in murky waters. The immediate need was not symbolic gestures or motivational slogans – it was action. It was young Malaysians, many of them volunteers from organisations like Team Selangor, who showed up. Armed with cleaning equipment and an unshakable sense of duty, these volunteers entered mud-caked homes, salvaging belongings, scrubbing walls and offering comfort to victims. They waded through floodwaters not just because they were assigned the task, but because they understood that patriotism means standing by your fellow Malaysians when they need you the most. This is the kind of national pride that leaves an imprint – not just on uniforms but on our hearts and minds. If there is one thing that has long embodied the spirit of Malaysian unity,

Traditionally, rewang was a way to bring villagers closer, especially during weddings or celebrations. But today, it has evolved into something more – a proof to our collective spirit. In recent years, Team Selangor has reintroduced rewang activities in community-driven projects, proving that the old ways still hold immense value. Whether it is preparing bubur lambuk for the community during Ramadan or organising gotong-royong clean-ups with local youths and elders, these initiatives reinforce the idea that nation-building is not just a job for policymakers; it is a duty shared by every citizen. Through rewang , young people experience first-hand what it means to work together for a common goal. They learn that patriotism is not just about loving one’s country in theory but actively participating in its progress. A flag pin on a uniform may remind us of our unity, but rewang ensures that we truly feel it. Actionable solutions While initiatives like the Jalur Gemilang badge campaign are well-intentioned, they should not be the end goal. Patriotism cannot be cultivated through compulsion alone; it must be nurtured through experience. We must empower young Malaysians with real

TWO days ago, during our routine commute to Putrajaya, my husband and I witnessed a deeply distressing sight – one that has since lingered in our minds and hearts. Lying on the emergency lane, just past Exit 613B, was the small, lifeless body of a baby monkey. Its limbs were limp; its life stolen too soon. Barely 19m ahead lay its mother, mangled and still, struck down by speeding vehicles. Her final act, it seemed, was an attempt to cross the road in search of whatever was left of their vanishing habitat. That morning, sorrow enveloped us. And today, their lifeless forms remain by the roadside – uncollected, unnoticed and unmourned. As though their existence meant nothing in the grand scheme of our so-called progress. Yet, this heart-wrenching tragedy is not an isolated event. It is emblematic of the silent, violent war waged daily against our once-verdant wilderness. Forests are being sacrificed to make way for sprawling residential and commercial developments – many of which lie unoccupied. Right across the highway, from where the monkeys met their end, a once-lush forest has been reduced to rubble and dust. In its place rises another commercial enclave, another “master-planned” community. As per the Education Ministry’s directive, every student in government schools, government-aided schools, matriculation colleges and teacher training institutes will wear the badge proudly on the right side of their uniform, parallel to their name tag. The government will provide two badges for each student, and they must remain unaltered and free from embellishments. The initiative is designed to instil patriotism and national pride in young Malaysians – a noble goal, no doubt. However, here is the question: Is patriotism something we wear or is it something we do? There is no denying the power of symbols. The Jalur Gemilang , with its vibrant stripes and crescent, represents unity, progress and Malaysia’s diverse identity. But patriotism – true, deep rooted love for one’s country – goes beyond the symbolic. It is cultivated through action and through a lived experience of contributing to something bigger than oneself. The best way to foster this is not just through visual representation but through meaningful participation in shaping Malaysia’s future. Instead of limiting our efforts to outward displays of national pride, why not focus on substantive interaction? This is where volunteerism comes in – not as a mere extracurricular activity, but

“Malaysia’s youths are not just the leaders of tomorrow – they are the changemakers of today. They do not need reminders of their identity;

they need avenues to shape it.”

deforestation in our own backyard. These pledges ring hollow when housing developments continue to mushroom despite a significant property overhang. Even before the pandemic, thousands of residential units stood unsold, yet new projects continue unabated, devouring ecosystems that took centuries to flourish. This is not sustainable growth. We have not merely infringed upon nature; we have desecrated its right to exist. We forget that wildlife does not recognise zoning laws or land ownership. Their world is the canopy above and the undergrowth below. Their economy is one of balance, not profit. When we destroy their habitat, where are they to go? Confused and disoriented, they wander into our constructed world – onto roads, into drains or onto the front pages, only when tragedy strikes. The mother monkey was not an accident. She was a casualty of a society that prioritises concrete over compassion. Crisis of morality This is no longer a mere environmental concern. It is a crisis of conscience. How many more shopping malls do we need? How many gated residences must we build before we confront the brutal cost of our expansion? Who are we truly building for – humans or the bottom line? We often pride ourselves on moral and spiritual values, yet our treatment of the most defenceless species speaks volumes. As Mahatma Gandhi once It is unsparing greed. Robbing the voiceless

LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com

Of silent forests and screaming consciences

At what point will we admit that we have taken too much? Diminishing green sanctuaries Malaysia, long revered for its lush tropical rainforests and extraordinary biodiversity, is witnessing an ecological unravelling. The green sanctuaries that once defined places like Bukit Cerakah, Kota Damansara, Desa ParkCity, Taman Rimba Ampang and Sungai Buloh have steadily been erased from the map. With each tree felled, a fragment of life is lost – habitats fragmented, migration routes severed and food chains disrupted. Near Exit 613B, the milky stork ( mycteria cinerea ) – a near-threatened species of white stork – once nested and paused in its migratory journeys. Today, with their habitat reduced to skeletal remnants, their presence has become increasingly rare. Development or devastation? It is profoundly disheartening that while Malaysia continues to participate in high-level environmental summits and ratify prestigious treaties, such as the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity and Asean’s various green frameworks, we simultaneously sanction rampant

With each tree felled, a fragment of life is lost - habitats fragmented, migration routes severed and food chains disrupted. – BERNAMAPIC

not just compensation. Urban reforestation, green buffers and ecological connectivity must become non-negotiables in our development agenda; not optional extras. Above all, we must remember that we share this land with countless species whose lives depend on our choices. Each forest we raze is not merely a change in landscape; it is the erasure of entire communities, of mothers and babies and of songs we will never hear again. We took everything from that monkey mother – her home, her food, her future and her life too. Let this letter serve not only as an appeal but as a reckoning. It is time we said: “Enough.” Suzianah Nhazzla Ismail Shah Alam

said: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” By that measure, we are failing – spectacularly. Path forward We urgently need to rethink our priorities. Environmental impact assessments must become rigorous and binding; not cursory checklists. Public engagement must be meaningful; not procedural. Green corridors must be more than planning jargon – they must be protected lifelines for wildlife. Authorities must halt approvals for new housing until existing inventory is absorbed. Developers must be held accountable for ecological damage and required to invest in restoration;