KUALA LUMPUR: Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa said patriotism is a universal sentiment that needs to be inculcated and not be taken for granted.
He said patriotism is an important national agenda that must be taught and guided through education as it contributes to nation-building.
“We need to nurture patriotism with efforts; it won’t happen automatically.
“Patriotism must be properly guided so that it won’t result in negative elements such as racism.
“People need to be acquainted beyond raising the national flag, recognising the national symbols and singing the national anthem as patriotism is a vast concept that must be understood deeply,” he said during a live discussion on patriotism broadcast by RTM's TV1 this evening.
The Ketereh MP said positive patriotism contains at least five criteria: understanding the nation's history, loving the nation and expressing the love, willingness to sacrifice for the country, loyalty and gratefulness.
He said being rebellious is not necessarily unpatriotic, as it could be an expression of love for the country and the sense of responsibility to rebuke and criticize.
Annuar noted that Malaysians displayed strong patriotism during the recent Olympics, such as during the badminton match between Datuk Lee Chong Wei and China’s Lin Dan.
He said Malaysians celebrated and cheered for Chong Wei even though both players are of Chinese heritage.
“We only have one country regardless of race, we were born here, grew up here, and will die here,” he said.
Also present at the discussion were Kepong MP Tan Seng Giaw and Kuala Nerus MP Khairuddin Aman Razali from DAP and Pas, respectively.
Tan concurred that patriotism must be inculcated from young at school, such as learning how to sing Negaraku.
“Malaysia is multi racial and multi religious, we must start to teach them from school to stay away from all forms of extremism.
“One of the way to show love for country is by avoiding extremism; any disputes must be solved amicably behind closed doors without taking it to the media,” he said, adding that patriotism can be instilled through the use of social media.
Meanwhile, Khairuddin warned that tyranny can stifle patriotism.
“Youngsters nowadays are not enthusiastic about flying the national flag, maybe they feel oppressed,” he said.