Unflagging patriotism in school
Pupils join retail giant Mydin in record-breaking show of love
PETALING JAYA: “I like Malaysia because there are a lot of things we can do here,” said James Chan as he excitedly showed off the T-shirt template he had decorated with the Jalur Gemilang and three of Kuala Lumpur’s iconic buildings – the Petronas Twin Towers, Menara Kuala Lumpur, and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
The 10-year-old said he enjoyed visiting landmark buildings in Malaysia, as reflected in his drawing.
Classmate Serelindawati Rindisan decorated her template with the famous image of Malaysia’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj punching the air with his fist at Stadium Merdeka on Aug 31, 1957.
“He chanted ‘Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka!...’” she said excitedly.
Chan and Serelindawati were among students of Year Four Kreatif from SK Damansara Jaya 1 who took part in Star Media Group’s Raise The Flag initiative.
The two, together with classmates Gerald Lee, Amira Izzati Adika Redza and Isaac Zulkarnain, were chosen as winners for their creatively designed T-shirt templates.
The five won hampers sponsored by Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd.
Mydin, which celebrated its 60th anniversary with a big bash on Thursday, had selected 60 schools nationwide to receive 10,000 copies of yesterday’s The Star which included Mydin’s four-page wrap containing the Jalur Gemilang.
Mydin managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said he was touched by the students’ act of decorating the T-shirt templates in a patriotic manner.
“I’m happy to see the enthusiasm and love the children have for their country reflected in their drawings,” said Ameer, who was one of the judges for the informal contest.
He said that love for one’s country should be sown in childhood through activities such as this.
The other judges were Ameer’s wife Datin Dr Siti Hawa Mohd, Star Media Group chief revenue officer Lim Bee Leng, and Group Content Development chief operating officer June Wong.
Mydin also made history by notching an impressive entry in The Malaysia Book of Records for having “the largest Jalur Gemilang origami circulation nationwide”.
To exceed the recorded figure of 465,000, co-organisers The Star collaborated by increasing its print run to 299,000 copies yesterday, thanks to sponsored copies and increased demand, while Malay daily Sinar Harian, under Kumpulan Media Karangkraf Group, contributed 200,000 copies.
SK Damansara Jaya 1 senior assistant (co-curriculum) Nur Mazlina Majnun said she was happy her school was chosen to participate in the Raise The Flag initiative.
“It’s very effective in enhancing patriotism among the younger generation,” she said.
Under the Raise The Flag initiative which runs until Malaysia Day, a special four-page spread in The Star will enable Malaysians to assemble their own mini Jalur Gemilang.
The T-shirt templates are included in the newspaper’s centrespread. Decorate these with a Malaysian motif and be photographed “wearing” it while holding the flag. Best poses should be hashtagged #RaiseTheFlagMY on social media. On Facebook, you can share it as: raisetheflagmy.
Exciting prizes include staycations and dining vouchers.
To bulk order the final remaining Raise The Flag issue on Sept 14, contact The Star’s Customer Care unit at 1-300-887827 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).