Position Paper 5
“Counselors are the key to the success of the 1 Malaysia concepts”
By : Nor Hanani Binti Ahmad Tajudin (0727412)

1 Malaysia concept, actually what exactly this concept tries to propose to us, try to teach us to do and what we as the Malaysian citizen need to give our cooperation in contributing to the thrive of this concept. Actually as we know, this is a new concept proposed by our current Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak as he hold the prime post. Every Prime Minister has their own manifestation or strategy in order to govern this country and at the same time tackle the heart of the citizens as a whole to support the government. Before this, Malaysians does not exposed to this concept yet, but after Dato’ Seri Najib took the post, he invested this 1 Malaysia concept. The Prime Minister also states, on record, that the 1 Malaysia concept is the guideline on how to achieve “bangsa Malaysia”, which translates into English as a “Malaysian race”. Our Prime Minister also states that the primary aspect of the 1 Malaysia concept has three core elements. These are including mutual acceptance amongst the races and peoples of Malaysia, nationalism based on principles of the Federal Constitution and the Rukunegara and the third is social justice. In a country where racial tension still simmers underneath the surface, he has come up with an idea designed to address them.

For me, 1 Malaysia concept carries the meaning of unity among the whole Malaysians citizens including all the races, ethnicities, religions, beliefs, cultures, and customs and so on. This concept tries to unite us regardless if we are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Siamese, Islam, Buddha, Hindus, Christians, Orang Asli, Kadazan or others to live happily, harmony and togetherness under the same ruler and on the same ground ‘tanah’, known as Malaysia. This concept has been a hot issues that every Malaysians talking about nowadays. Not just people in urban areas but the villagers also talk a lot about this. But the point is, is every one of us, get exactly what is 1 Malaysia try to present?

As based on the topic given, counselors are the sources of this 1 Malaysia concept. For me, how come we can be sources if don’t know what is the 1 Malaysia all about. Who involves in this concept, what are the objectives, and so on? We have to alert with all the latest updated happening in our surroundings. As we aware that every citizen is involved, we have to get to know the differences and the similarities among all of us. After all, as counselors, we are taking courses or subjects related to this issue. That is why we can be the sources for this concept. Public can find us and refer to us regarding this issue as we have been taught and trained officially about the cross-cultural, multicultural counseling that we can handle and dealing with sort of thing. We understand Malaysians as various races and beliefs well, compared to those who are not well trained and have the skills in this field. People can just talk and gives personal opinion and response regarding this issue but not as full of comprehension as us as counselors. We talk with full of information because we did the research about others regardless their races, religions and ethnicities.

But of course, we have to properly use our advantages as counselors that we know the differences among races and religions well compares to others. We cannot take our advantages to condemn others differences and to stereotyping them or in another words, to judging them. If we ourselves did these kinds of negatives things, how can we be the sources of 1 Malaysia concept that need us to unite all of our citizens together in this country? We have to equally entertain others regardless their religions and races or their differences. We have to see the differences as the unique appearances represent by a race. That makes the Malaysia as a beautiful and harmony country to live in.

Thank you………………..(‘v’)