My Take | Malaysian mandate to add flag to school uniforms: patriotic or problematic?
The onus to keep flags ‘clean and not faded’ falls on the parents, some of whom are already struggling with day-to-day expenses
From April 21, all students in government-run institutions, from preschool to vocational college, will be required to affix the Jalur Gemilang – the official name of the national flag – over the right side of the chest on their uniforms.
The point of the exercise is to engender a feeling of “love and pride” in the country among students, besides promoting intercultural unity and instilling patriotism through a shared national identity, the ministry said in a circular sent out to its state and division heads.
Instead, the new rule elicited a collective groan by parents already juggling multiple responsibilities across their children’s schooling and work, to just maintain a minimum liveable standard at home in an age where surging living costs make single income households increasingly untenable.
The education ministry said in a follow-up statement on Thursday that it will provide two free badges to every student to get the campaign rolling.