Position Paper 5

NAME: NUR FARAHIYAH BT YAHAYA
MATRIC NO: 0737718

Counselors as the key to the success of 1 Malaysia concept.

1 Malaysia Concept was introduced by our new fifth Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak on 3rd April 2009 with the slogan “Rakyat didahulukan, pencapaian diutamakan”. The objective of this concept is to unity of all races regardless whether they are Malay, Chinese, Indian, Dayak, Iban, Kadazan and so on.
Although some people may be disagree with that statement but I am strongly agree that Counselors as the key to the success of 1 Malaysia concept. As we know, the role of counselor in school is very important. In my point of view, firstly, what is the thing that counselors can do is to treat clients same regardless of their races whether in individual counseling session or group counseling session. What I mean here is counselor should not be bias when they are doing these sessions. Because of that, all these clients will feel comfortable with the counselor whether they are from different races.
Another thing that counselor can do is to implement programs, seminars or activities that involve students from all races. It is mean that, all these program, seminar or activities should be represent by all these races without racial bias. Besides, counselor has to plan module that is suitable with all races at that school and concern about it for example from the aspect religion, what is permissible or prohibited in their religion. All these are really important because it give rise to unsatisfied feeling among students because their belief was being humiliated. So the result is they will not more involve in the program, seminar and activities that will be organized in school because there are bias. Actually, counselor can make collaboration with the parties like Ministry of Artistry, Cultural and Heritage in order to make program in school that related to culture. From these, there are a lot of advantages that students can get such as they can know better about other culture. It can instill the self-respect to other culture.
In addition, besides being counselor in school, a counselor also as a consultant to the parents, principal, teachers, school staff and society. Counselor should have good relationship with all these parties. As a consultant, counselor should have enough knowledge, skills and so on. Moreover, they should not be bias whether all these parties are different from the counselor races. If the counselor is not so expert in one field so those counselors have to consult with professional in that field. Not only inside of school, counselor also should have the good relationship with the society outside regardless of their races.
In contrast, some people argue that counselor cannot do anything to achieve this 1 Malaysia concept because it is not really easy to achieve unity. We can see what happened to our country on 13 May 1969 about racial fighting. But it is not demoralize us to integrate all races. Besides, they should realize that role of counselor in school is really important because without counselor in school, the situation in school will be chaos. Furthermore, school is the secondary sources after family. Beside that, as we know, students spare most of the times in school so that the influences is very strong.
In conclusion, although each of Prime Ministers has their own concept but actually the aim is same to society and country for unity. This concept will not be achieved at all if all parties do not cooperate, tolerance, fairness, respect among each other and just regard is as slogan by our new Prime Ministers, when one takes power, one must introduce something to become popular.