POSITION PAPER 5,Siti Farhana Elias (0719618)

“Counselors are the key to the success of the 1 Malaysia concept”

1 Malaysia concept, a new initiative by our Prime Minister YAB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak is designed to the unity of such a multicultural country. There is certainly a need to have more responsibility and accountability counselors to the success this concept. Here I could say that counselors become important social agents for the healthy development of the nation’s unity. Counselors can be the key of success for the living in a multi- racial as well as multi- religious society. Counselor roles are really crucial in dealing with the social and cultural environment of the society.
The others reason counselors are the key of the 1 Malaysia concept because they are professionally competent in relevant psychological skills, knowledge, psychosocial and mental health which is not have in the other person. They have the ability and capability in assisting the client in different culture towards modernity, pluralism, gender equality, universal human right and so on. They have the appropriate methods to the need of society because they advocates in focusing on the corrective or orientation program comprising of awareness campaigns, seminar and workshop to provide information and guidance activities.
However, some people say that counselors are not the key to success of 1 Malaysia concept. People are no need to seek for counselors’ helping. They are not believe in counselors because the counselors themselves really incompetent from adequate training as professional helping person. They do not know everything and they do not have the knowledge. So, how can they able to deal with people? How can they be genuine concern, empathy, aware and conscious to the people needs?
In my opinion, I agree that counselors are the key to the success of 1 Malaysia concept because of their intellectual background, knowledge, ethical standards, and skill that they are possessed. Thus, they are capable to demonstrate positive relations by showing respect for the worth and dignity of the society. Meaning that, they have the capability to bring the unity among the societies.