By Aisyah Karina
Malaysia is widely known for being a multiracial country, hence it needs various concepts and methods towards building a united nation.
There are many instances which portray unity that is evident within the society such as during festive celebrations like Aidil Fitri or Chinese New Year where it is celebrated together regardless of race.
Malaysia is also famous for its wide variety of dishes and traditional clothings that are different according to each culture.
This year marks the 63rd year since Malaysia first gained its independence from Britain on 31 August 1957.
Every year, the Independence Day or Merdeka and Hari Malaysia celebration are celebrated widely by every Malaysian to honour the efforts of various parties led by the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman in obtaining independence.
The chosen theme for this year’s Independence day and Malaysia day which falls on 31 August and 16 September respectively is ‘Malaysia Prihatin’ or Malaysia Cares as stated by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia.
The word ‘prihatin’ according to the Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka dictionary is defined as being considerate and showing concern or care for others.
The aim of the slogan is to commemorate the national day and Hari Malaysia.
The slogan brings multicultural and multilingual Malaysians together and draws attention to the current situation in particular, due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected everyone, locally and internationally.
To date, there have been 62 new cases of COVID-19 as reported by the Health Ministry making the total number of cases more than 10,000.
Various initiatives have been taken to help curb the pandemic such as through economic and welfare assistance to ensure the safety for all Malaysians regardless of the religions and cultures.
A combination of two words, ‘Malaysia’ and ‘Prihatin’ represents the awareness portrayed by every citizen in overcoming the spread of virus.
The logo of Malaysia Prihatin symbolises the shape of a heart accompanied by the background of Jalur Gemilang which is the national flag of Malaysia.
Seven red and white stripes form a heart that signifies the meaning of bravery and being prepared to face any challenges with determination and a sincere heart.
The unity of Malaysians is also represented by the dark blue colour which shows that various races in Malaysia are living in peace and harmony.
The stigma of the hibiscus which wraps the heart refers to the country’s goal in achieving success.
Five red dots are also used to represent the five principles of Rukun Negara.
Applying the slogan ‘Malaysia Prihatin’ requires commitment and support from all parties to ensure its success.
It is therefore important for all of us including the youths or young people to unite and together work towards establishing a harmonious country.
Hopefully everyone is willing to participate in activities that can foster good interaction among people and together build a strong nation.***