IPTs play vital role in nurturing spirit of patriotism, independence — Rais
KUALA LUMPUR: Institutions of Higher Learning ( IPT) play a vital role in nurturing a spirit of patriotism and independence among the people in the country through education.
Socio Cultural Affairs Advisor to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim said apart from realising such a spirit through celebrations and parades, the meaning of independence must also be realised in the form of innovative education system.
“We need to establish our own education system based on Islam and the interests of the (Malaysian) community.
“We cannot be tied forever to the colonial education sysyem,” he told reporters after launching the Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia ( UIAM) Independence Month celebration here yesterday.
Rais, who is also UIAM president, said the university served to remind graduates and policy makers that the causes in education must be consistent with the independence achieved by the country.
He said the relevant parties should be aware that the Malaysian identity was being colonised and it was becoming a big challenge to nurture it again.
In terms of language, he said it was the role of the IPTs to restore the Malaysian identity via the education system.
Meanwhile the event, held at the UIAM Gombak campus activities centre, was enlivened with the participation of 1,000 university staff and students. — Bernama