Nilai UC students learn more about their homeland during Merdeka Month.
"We all shout 'Merdeka' on 31 August and stick mini flags on our cars throughout out the month. But how many of us really know the meaning of independence and how it was achieved," says Mohamad Zaini Jaafar, lecturer in Nilai University College's School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Hence he made all the students in his Malaysian Studies classes research a number of topics based on the themes of Merdeka and Malaysia past and present. Students were to give presentations as well as set up information booths on the subject which they were given.
"It is also a great way to share the story of Malaysian independence with our international students," says Zaini. Topics included National Economic Policy, former Prime Ministers such as Tun Dr Mahathir and Tunku Abdul Rahman, Colonisation era, and the Malaysian Constitution. Students were eager and enthusiastic about the project given its timing and their excitement to share their new-found knowledge was obvious when they set up their booths in an open walkway on campus.
Students who got the topic of 'Parliamentary democracy and Electoral process in Malaysia' were busy handing out Electoral Commission leaflets to their peers and exhorting them to register as voters. All of them proudly announced that they had registered as voters and understood the importance of being part of the democratic process.
"We are trying our best to get as many of our friends and course mates to register (as voters). After doing this presentation, we realised how important it is to take part in an election. We are fortunate that we live in a democratic society and we should not let that go to waste by not voting," says Goh Lim Jia, a student in Nilai UC's Diploma in Business Administration.
"I used to only know Tunku Abdul Rahman by name but after doing research for this project, I now understand what a great politician he was. He was a real diplomat in the way he negotiated with the British for our independence. I also am more informed on the circumstances leading to the breakaway of Singapore from the federation," says Jonathan Yong, a student in Nilai UC's Diploma in Engineering programme.
Chan Mei Ying was in charge of the group that put up the booth on Dr Mahathir and Vision2020. The Diploma in Business Administration students could not hide her awe at the former prime minister's efforts in transforming Malaysia into a modern, industrialised nation. When asked if she enjoyed doing the project, Chan did not hesitate to say that it was one of the most enjoyable and informative projects she has done. "After all, I could relate to everything I learned as this is my home. This project has made me feel even prouder to be Malaysian as I now understand the struggles we have gone through as a nation and as a people," she smiles.
Nilai UC was established in 1997 and aims to produce well-rounded graduates who are academically competent and socially confident. The administrators ensure students are given plenty of opportunity to expand their horizons through talks, seminars, camps, sporting activities and projects such as this Merdeka project. The Merdeka project is part of the Malaysian Studies module which is compulsory for all local students and this project was initiated by Nilai UC School of Humanities and Social Sciences lecturers Mohamad Zaini Bin Jaafar, Azean Idruwani Idrus and Syed Abu Bakar.
