KOTA KINABALU: Music can be a way to instill national unity under the education system, said chairman of the National Arts Culture and Heritage Academy Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamed Ghouse Nasuruddin.
He pointed out that traditional music was sidelined by Malaysians and television nowadays as we were more inclined towards Western music.
“In schools there are Western music subjects and music students can also take their exam from the Royal School in London, but is there a school for traditional music in Sabah?” he asked, adding that learning traditional music was only available in universities.
Dr Mohamed suggested every student play music at school, and stressed the importance of interaction among students in unity.
He said that in a forum entitled ‘The Role of Music in National Unity’ as part of the 1Best Malaysia 2010 programme for Sabah higher learning institutions at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) here yesterday.
He added that the current education system, which was divided into national-type, Chinese vernacular and Tamil vernacular schools, could affect the unity among young people.
“If the young people do not interact, they will not understand each other, and remain divided.
“We need one national system,” he stressed, adding that Sabah is an exemplar of the national integration.
Also present were chairman of the forum Andrew Poninting and UMS Co-curriculum Centre and Student Development director Asso Prof Abdul Jamal Abd Hamid.