Initiative a hit with SK Bandar Utama 4 pupils
Kids enjoy decorating T-shirt for National Day
PETALING JAYA: “I really, really love Malaysia and I am really, really proud to be Malaysian,” grinned nine-year-old bright spark J. Yezhvin.
The chatty Yezhvin, from Class 3 Marikh in SK Bandar Utama 4, was proud of the T-shirt he had decorated for National Day.
It was filled with images of the Jalur Gemilang in the background.
In the forefront stood three smiling figures: a Malay man, an Indian woman and a Chinese girl, all holding a huge heart.
The T-shirt was a cut-out from The Star’s Raise the Flag pullout that came out in print for the first time yesterday.
“The thing I like (about the campaign) is the creativity ... and teamwork with my classmates,” he said of the campaign, which comes with a cut-out of the Jalur Gemilang and the T-shirt template.
Yezhvin and his classmates were one of the first to take part in the Star Media Group’s Raise the Flag initiative, which was launched last Thursday.
SK Bandar Utama 4 ordered 750 copies of yesterday’s edition for the entire school.
Headmaster Zakaria Muhammad said he wanted to bring the Raise the Flag initiative to the school to instil a love for the country among the younger generation.
“It is a good initiative for this year’s National Day.
“It will give students an understanding of National Day and its true meaning,” said Zakaria, adding that students loved assembling and decorating the Jalur Gemilang and the T-shirt template.
Class teacher of 3 Marikh Nur Nadiya Naharuddin said the campaign helped instil patriotism, unity and teamwork in students.
“The kids definitely enjoyed it,” said Nur Nadiya, who is also the school’s coordinator for the Raise the Flag initiative.
The campaign seeks to strengthen national pride and unity among Malaysians of all ages and ethnicities.
Aset Kayamas is the main sponsor while Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd is the co-sponsor.
Under the Raise the Flag campaign, special four-page spreads will enable Malaysians to cut out and assemble their own mini flags.
There will also be T-shirt templates included in the newspaper’s centrespread.
Decorate them with a Malaysian motif and be photographed “wearing” the T-shirt while holding the flags.
Best poses should be hashtagged #RaiseTheFlagMY on social media. On Facebook, you can also share it as: raisetheflagmy.
Prizes await the best photos.
To bulk order any of the special Raise The Flag issues slated for July 28, Aug 12, Aug 18 and Sept 14, contact The Star’s Customer Care unit at 1-300-88-7827 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm).
It is a good initiative for this year’s National Day. It will give students an understanding of National Day and its true meaning.
Zakaria Muhammad