KANGAR: The Perlis Malay Association (Pemanis) agreed with the view of Trustee of the Malaysia Unity Foundation, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye on the importance of all Malaysians to uphold the National Anthem (Negaraku), Jalur Gemilang national flag and the principles of Rukun Negara.
Its president Datuk Mohd Zain Hamzah said that every citizen of the country needs to understand that these three things are a symbol of national patriotism and a sense of love for a country that cannot be mocked or altered in any way.
He said this to Bernama here today, commenting on Lam Thye’s statement about the viral video of students singing the national anthem in Mandarin at a school in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan recently.
In the statement, the social activist said providing an understanding of the meaning of the word in the national anthem was understandable but it needed to be sung in the official language, Bahasa Malaysia as gazetted in the National Anthem Act 1968.
Commenting on the statement, Mohd Zain said such things should not happen after more than 60 years of independence, especially by educated school teachers.
“Pemanis also welcomed the Education Ministry’s statement two days ago to investigate the incident as it happened in the classroom of a school,” he said.
Mohd Zain hoped that a firm action should be taken against the teacher involved because what he did was a serious offence that affected the feelings of the majority of Malaysians.
He hoped that this would not happen again as it involved schoolchildren who would inherit the country in the future. – Bernama
