Abang Johari (seated fourth from left) with the 1Malaysia Camp participants after the closing ceremony.
KUCHING: The younger generation has been advised to fully understand the Rukunegara.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, in giving the advice, said the Rukunegara is important as it represented the foundation upon which Malaysia develops.
“When the May 13, 1969, incident happened, our leaders looked at the best solution where people of various religions and racial backgrounds can have as a meeting point for them to build this country. That was how the Rukunegara was born.
“This is something that you have to learn. Today’s children are different from those during my time, and our challenges were different from those at present. The most important thing is we must have the capacity to surmount his challenges,” he said when closing the 1Malaysia Camp at Kolej Multimedia here yesterday.
In order to surmount the challenges today, he said the people must be well read.
“If you’re not well read, it will be difficult for you to face the challenges because your actions will be based not on intellectual discourses but on emotions. When emotions
take control, then it is no longer good judgement and assessment.”
Abang Johari pointed out with globalisation and the desire to have more freedom, the biggest challenge for the younger generation of today was whether they could behave within the code of conduct as stated in the Rukunegara.
“This is the biggest challenge for young people.”
Abang Johari acknowledged that global citizens are no longer restricted in the news and opinions they get.
“A global citizen requires a global mind. Without a global mind, we will lose out to other people because the playground has changed. That is how you’re going to prepare yourself.”
He noted the world had also changed due to technology.
“Technology is so advanced not only in communications, such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype, but also in medical science. Last time, we use X-Ray to scan our body, but now it can also be done using MRI.”
Abang Johari believed that if technology is used positively, it will benefit mankind. But if it is abused, it may even destroy mankind.