Symposium Book - FRSIS 2012

BIL CONTENTS PAGE

1 Introduction 1

2 Cultural Understanding Generates Global Unity Kolej Islam Sultan Alam Shah 2

3 The Pursuit of Global Unity SMS Hulu Selangor 3

4 Language and Culture Unite the World SMS Tuanku Syed Putra 4

5 Food Power: Special Recipes Bring Families Together SM Sultan Abdul Halim 5

6 The Roles of Youth in Promoting Cultural Awareness SBPI Kubang Pasu 6

7 Culture Diversity SMS Kubang Pasu 7

8 Tolerance Promotes Group Harmony SMS Pokok Sena 8

9 Amalgamation through Technology Advancement SMS Sultan Muhammad Jiwa 9

10 Youth and Culture SMS Kepala Batas 10

11 Youth and Culture SMS Tun Syed Sheh Shahabudin 11

12 K-Pop: The New Wave of Global Entertainment Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman 12

13 Achieving Global Unity through Food SMS Teluk Intan 13

14 Multiculturalism Generates Mutual Tolerance among Nations The Malay College Kuala Kangsar 14

15 Gourmet’s Globalization SMS Raja Tun Azlan Shah 15

16 Nurturing Global Unity through Cultural Diversity SBPI Gopeng 16

17 Food- A Recipe for Our Unity SMS Tapah 17

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18 Cultural Understanding Generates Global Unity: Cullture and Language SMS Bagan Datoh 18

19 Culture and Language SMS Kuala Selangor 19

20 Young, Urban and Profesional SMAP Kajang 20

21 Unity Starts from the Tummy SBPI Sabak Bernam 21

22 Arts and Culture Understanding Generates Global Unity SBPI Rawang 22

23 Decoding Malaysia SMS Alam Shah 23

24 Global Culture Generates World Unity : Culture Preservation SMS Seri Puteri 24

25 Cultural Diversity SMS Selangor 25

26 Arts and Culture Understanding Generates Global Unity SBPI Gombak 26

27 Cultural Preservation Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah 27

28 Culture Vibes Sekolah Seri Puteri 28

29 Food and Unity SMS Banting 29

30 Cultural Understanding Generates Global Unity : An Islamic Perspective SMAP Labu 30

31 Culture throughout History Kolej Tunku Kurshiah 31

32 Cultural Awareness and Respect – The Key to World Unity Sekolah Dato’ Abdul Razak 32

33 The Roles of Youth in Preserving the Heritage in Malaysia SMS Tuanku Jaafar 33

34 Cultural Awareness and Respect SMS Tuanku Munawwir 34

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35 Engaging Youth in Culture Preservation SBPI Jempol 35

36 Breaking Barriers, Widening Horizons SMS Rembau 36

37 Food and Unity SBPI Selandar 37

38 Global Culture: The Act of Understanding Multiculturalism SMS Muzaffar Syah 38

39 The Modern Nightmare Sekolah Tun Fatimah 39

40 Intermarriage as a Catalyst to Improve Global Unity SMS Muar 40

41 A Study of Students’ Perceptions of Hedonistic Culture among Youths SMS Johor 41
in SMS Johor

42 Nurturing Global Unity through Cultural Diversity SMS Kota Tinggi 42

43 Culture Preservation Generates Global Unity SMS Sultan Iskandar 43

44 Great Food Great Nation:Celebrating Diversity SMS Sembrong 44

45 Unity in Diversity SMS Sultan Hj Ahmad Shah 45

46 Cultural Diversity: The Gateway to Malaysia’s Harmony and Prosperity SMS Tengku Abdullah 46

47 The Role of Youth in Generating World Unity Sekolah Sains Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah 47

48 Global Culture Awareness and Respect in Generating World Unity SBPI Kuantan 48

49 Global Culture Generates World Unity SBPI Tun Abdul Razak 49

50 Cultural Diversity SBPI Temerloh 50

51 Cultural Diversity SMS Sultan Mahmud 51
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52 Evolution of Culture SMS Kuala Terengganu 52

53 Teenagers All around the World Are Alike SMS Dungun 53

54 Cultural Understanding Generates Global Unity SBPI Batu Rakit 54

55 Nature Stands Still in the Unity of the Youth SMS Hulu Terengganu 55

56 Cultural Understanding Generates Global Unity SMS Setiu 56

57 Literature Unites the World SMS Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra 57

58 Youth and Culture SMS Machang 58

59 Youth and Culture SMS Pasir Puteh 59

60 Cultural Preservation SMS Sabah 60

61 Youth vs. Culture: Significant Roles of Youth in Sustaining Culture SMS Lahad Datu 61

62 Youth as the Antidote of Culture Unawareness SMS Labuan 62

63 A Dying Culture SMS Kuching 63

64 Students Engagement in Cultural Activities or Issues SMS Miri 64

65 Rising above Challenges: Making a Difference through Service Learning Cresent Girls’ School, 65
Singapore

66 Equipping Millennians with a Global Perspective Millenia Institute , Singapore 66

67 Youth and Culture Nanyang Girls High School 67
Singapore

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68 Integrating Culture through Cuisine Sekolah Menengah Sultan 68
Muhammad Jamalul Alam
(SM SMJA) Brunei

69 Arts and Culture Sekolah Menengah Berakas, Brunei 69

70 School Contribution in Developing Multicultural Awareness among Students SMA 1 Padang, Indonesia 70

71 Indonesia’s Culture Preservation SMA Negeri 2 Bogor, Indonesia 71

72 Boarding School Lifestyle Decreases Conflict and Improves Cultural Insan Cendekia Al Kausar High School, 72
Understanding among Students West Java, Indonesia

73 Culture Disaster for the Youth Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan (SMK) 73
Negeri 7 Bandung

74 Art as a Reflection of Culture and a Country’s Identity Pasarmint Demonstration School 74
Thailand

75 Food : An International Language Kiettisack International School, Laos 75
PDR

76 Cultural Diversity St. Mark’s Girls Sr. Sec. School, 76
New Delhi , India

77 A Culture of Innnovation Australian Science & Mathematics 77
School, South Australia, Australia

78 RID – Resources, Investment and Development National Lyceum D. Philippa of 78
A Case Study in the Azores, Portugal Lancaster, Portugal

79 Hlinsko Students Go Global Gymnázium K.V. 79
Raise Adámkova 55 Hlinsko v Č,
the Czech Republic
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80 Cultural Understanding Generates Global Unity ITIS “ Cannizzaro” Rome 80
Italy

81 The True Dutchman Does Not Exist Het Amsterdams Lyceum 81
Amsterdam, Netherlands

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FULLY RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM (FRSIS) 2012,
27 -31 MARCH 2012 , Melaka, MALAYSIA

“Global Culture Generates World Unity”
Today, respecting and managing cultural diversity is one of the most important tasks that globalization imposes on the entire world; nations that neglect
it do so at their own risk. If left unattended to, conflicts between ethnic groups may lead to the destabilization of a nation that can hinder progress in
other domains. Quote: Expo Shanghai 2010

Therefore, FRSIS 2012 aims to polish talents and leadership skills among students based on the proposed theme which is Global Culture Generates World
Unity. This symposium is also aimed to facilitate potential national leaders to respect the culture and heritage of a nation because it is a prerequisite for a
harmonious development of society and nation. Besides that, it also promotes awareness and understanding among students that culture and heritage
are interrelated and should be respected, preserved and kept in the progress of the race because that aspect is the identity of a nation.

This symposium which is held from 27th-31st March 2012 consists of participants ranging from 15-19 years old. Its main theme is Global Culture
Generates World Unity. This theme has been chosen as the student participants are assets of a country that are very valuable as they are young,
enthusiastic, energetic, and have potentials. Therefore, when these features are combined and polished, they will be the catalyst for change and
progress. The sub-themes of this symposium include, but are not limited to:

Cultural Globalisation
Culture and Economy
Youth and Culture
Arts and Culture
Cultural Diversity
Cultural Preservation
Culture and Language
Cultural Awareness and Respect
Socialisation of Culture
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Cultural Understanding Generates Unity
By: Alia Solihin Binti Ahmad
Kolej Islam Sultan Alam Shah,
Selangor, Malaysia

The culture of Malaysia draws on the varied cultures of the different peoples of Malaysia and each
of the cultures is unique and distinctive. Malaysia is a nation full of different colours and has already
succeeded in mixing these colours to paint a beautiful masterpiece. Even though we differ in many
aspects such as our ethnic groups, skin colours, ways of life, language of communication, we are still
proud to be Malaysians. The questions of how and why have one simple answer that is the willingness
to share and to understand. Art is one of the specialities in Malaysia and it is closely related to
culture. Different cultures have different arts from performing arts to earthenware to handicrafts
each showing its own uniqueness. There are numerous cultural contributions which are distinctly
indigenous to the different ethnic groups to be found in Malaysia. These cultural contributions add
more colours to the already picturesque Malaysia. The people’s willingness to share their arts and
culture, and to understand and accept other cultures contribute to the nation‟s unity and achieve
the goals of 1Malaysia. That is how arts and culture unite the people of this nation. We believe that if
other nations around the world were to take our beloved nation as a model, the whole world would
be a better place to live.


The Pursuit of Global Unity
By: Nicholas Lim Jin Shen
Sekolah Menengah Sains Hulu Selangor,
Selangor, Malaysia

Malaysian forefathers built this country based on a deep sense of tolerance among the multi-cultural,
multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation state. Today, after 55 long years of enjoying independence,
the Malaysian people are still enjoying domestic tranquillity under the umbrella of tolerance and
acceptance that is shared by all Malaysians. How is this possible? A deeply ingrained awareness and
respect in all Malaysians is inculcated through a systematic education system that takes into account
the diversity of different ethnic groups. The elemental aim of educating culture in secondary schools
is not only to instil a deep sense of tolerance but simultaneously to guarantee that students retain
the knowledge and practise it. The objective of this study is to answer two questions: first, how deep
is the tolerance level of Malaysian students? And second, which method or branch of culture is most
easily understood and adapted? We conducted surveys through questionnaires at a neighbouring
school in the Hulu Yam district in order to substantiate the results. That particular school was chosen
on the grounds that the student population was equally divided among the three main races. Through
our own Arts and Culture Club, we carried out various activities with the students and observed the
results. Based on the results, we deduced that the level of tolerance among students was very high
and they were also practising the acquired knowledge in their daily lives. This was clearly seen in the
way they socialise. These surveys and observation strongly suggest that the level of awareness and
tolerance is very high. However, the same cannot be said of the practice of this knowledge. Through
this club, we are providing the modus operandi to extend the knowledge into practice. From the
activities, we are confident that students will apply this knowledge throughout their lives even after
leaving school.


Language and Culture Unite the World
By : Farah Adilah Roslan
Sekolah Menengah Sains Tuanku Syed Putra,
Perlis, Malaysia

Language and culture are fundamentally inseparable as both of the components complement each
other. Culture is a kind of social inheritance, shared by the whole community, and not belonging
to any particular individual. As language is the primary medium of communication, it functions as
a reflector for both the personality of the individual and the culture of his history. In turn, it helps
shape both personality and culture. The objective of this research is to study the relationship between
language and culture.

Throughout my research, I found that the way a community uses language is part of the community’s
culture, just as other shared practices are; it is a way of displaying group identity. Ways of speaking
function not only to facilitate communication, but also to identify the social position of the speaker.
A culture must have at least one language, which it uses as a distinct medium of communication
to convey its defining ideas, customs, and beliefs, from one member of the community to another
member. Different cultures have different and unique languages which are used to display their
identities. Language unite the community as they are using the same medium of communication, and
sharing the same beliefs and culture, thus, it is proven that language is important in uniting people
who come from different backgrounds.

I can summarize the relationship between culture and language as follows: language is a key
component of culture. It is the primary medium for transmitting much of culture. Without language,
culture would not be possible.


Food Power: Special Recipes Bring Families Together
By: Ahmad Azaruddin Azman
Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Abdul Halim,
Kedah, Malaysia

Food is good for all sorts of things. Food is a means of uniting people as it is something that people
can bond together over. We turn to it when we need comfort. Food creates comfort since everybody
is happy when food is mentioned. Malaysian cuisine reflects the multicultural aspect of Malaysia with
her diverse ethnic groups. Many dishes in Malaysia are derived from multiple ethnic influences. Food
is something that everyone needs and is essential to life just like unity. The objective of this research
is to provide information on the power of food in uniting all Malaysians. The method of research used
is by conducting a survey with the students and teachers of Sekolah Menengah Sultan Abdul Halim as
respondents. One of the outcomes is the positive correlation between the different dishes of each race
to the unity of Malaysians. Besides, it is found that food can actually promote mutual understanding
among Malaysian citizens. It can be seen vividly that nowadays unity among Malaysians is stronger
than in other countries. This can be proven by the results of the research done. In school, students
are found to be familiar with dishes such as yong tau fu, roti canai, and rojak . In fact, students eat
these dishes almost every day although those dishes are not from their own cultures. Whether we
realise it or not, food has actually changed the lifestyles of Malaysians where in this modern world
Malaysians love to spend their time at Mamak stalls with their friends who are of different races. With
this modern lifestyle, even the weak become strong when they are united.


The Roles of Youth in Promoting Cultural Awareness
By: Shafeeq Ahlami Bin Khairul Aman
SBPI Kubang Pasu,
Kedah, Malaysia

Perception of people today is that youth and culture are never going to blend. The advent of fast
growing technologies and vast modernisation has overshadowed the beautiful culture that has been
kept safe by our ancestors for us to make this world a better place for everybody. It is not surprising
that culture is in the backburner in the minds of youths and for some it has no place at all.

We live, we breathe and we sleep culture, and as youths who want unity and peace on Mother Earth,
why do we not make a paradigm shift and realise that culture is everything that matters? One day is
never enough for us to talk about culture because the word itself has an enormous meaning to every
person in this world.

Youths are the future and creating cultural awareness among us is essential to ensure that this world
is filled with culture exuberance in every corner regardless of colour and race. The world is ours in the
future and when we have culture in our hearts; it is a matter of time before the world will unite as one.


Cultural Diversity
By : Amal Azraai Bin Che Azuha
Sekolah Menengah Sains Kubang Pasu,
Kedah, Malaysia

What does the phrase Cultural Diversity mean? The word cultural can be defined as connected with
the culture of a particular society or group, its custom and believes, whereas, diversity means a range
of many people or things that are very different from each other. On the other hand, cultural diversity
is a colossal influence to generate global unity.

Malaysia. A country concealed behind the epicentre of major economic growth in the Asian region,
is actually becoming the epitome of vibrant cultures. In fact, throughout this harmonic country live
multiple races such as Malays, Chinese, Indians and others that live together peacefully. It all started
in the early 1900s when the British brought in a throng of migrants from India and China to work in the
estates and as labourers. Since then, Malaysia has become the focus of diverse cultures in the region.

Each race here has its own unique celebrations, customs and ways of life. Although each of the races
is different in a myriad of ways, the citizens of Malaysia still live in peace and harmony. The unity
established in the past is simply too tough to be destroyed.

In conclusion, we, as the responsible successors of Malaysian future, should endeavour to preserve
this cultural bond forever. Besides, we should always respect the beliefs of other races and side-step
all the sensitive issues that could cause dissension. The continuity of this cultural bonding is vital as it
signifies our ultimate global unity.


Tolerance Promotes Group Harmony
By: Husna Izzati Binti Sabri
Sekolah Menengah Sains Pokok Sena,
Kedah, Malaysia

The 21st century is known for the creation of the modern state in which culture is still regarded as
an important aspect in our life. Our world is rich with cultural diversity. There are many differences
among these cultures such as in the aspect of social life, moral values, beliefs, religions, customs
and norms. However, problems arise when people are aware of these differences yet they do not
respect them. These problems turn into something worse which leads to a new form of prejudice
called racism which propagates the belief that some races are superior to others. This new prejudice
causes people to be disunited.

In order to overcome this problem, we have come up with an overview of the issue entitled Global
Cultures Generate World Unity: Tolerance Promotes Group Harmony.

Tolerance literally means the willingness to accept something especially opinions or behaviour that
we may not agree with or people who are distinguished in term of something that is different from
us. In other words, tolerance is the capacity for the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs
or practices of others.

The objectives of this research conducted are to highlight the importance of tolerance for group
harmony, to encourage the practice of tolerance in life and to overcome the problem of racism.
The methodology of our research consists of three stages, which are observation, surveys and data
analysis.

Tolerance is one of the key issues in solving the problems of racism that are prevalent in our world
and it could be practiced in many aspects of life. If all the people who are from different backgrounds,
cultures, religions and beliefs could learn to be tolerant towards each other, peace and harmony will
rule in our life. Hence, it is proven that tolerance is the catalyst necessary to promote group harmony.


Amalgamation through Technology Advancement
By: Farah Iliyana bt Mohd Noor
Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mohamad Jiwa,
Kedah, Malaysia

The people of today have undergone a lot of changes due to globalisation as the world now is growing
rapidly by leaps and bounds. This is mostly caused by the emerging wave of technology which creates
a new shift in cultural life of the society throughout the globe.

In the present era, the people now are more technology-savvy. Through advancements in technology,
a lot of people nowadays are exposed to cultures from other countries. A lot of mediums now are
commonly-used used by the public every day. Thus, this situation is expected to generate a new form
of culture which indirectly will promote unity among these people. The question is what are the kinds
of technology which contribute to this unity? Also, how do these advancements play their role in
changing the paradigm? Is there really any efficient medium where the process of inter-culturing can
be established?

Therefore, these advancements in technology might have a huge impact in creating a new-dimension
in the way of life of today‟s society. It is believed that through this technology global unity can be
generated via its worldwide standardised usage.


Youth and Culture
By: Muhd Ikmal Bin Ahmad Hanizar
Sekolah Menengah Sains Kepala Batas
Kedah, Malaysia

Culture consists of the beliefs, behaviour, objects and other characteristics common to the members
of a particular group or society. In another definition, culture is presented as the way of life. A country
that has a variety of customs or cultures is considered unique and interesting. One of the important
reasons for maintaining a culture is the culture of values and the attitudes of respect. Both of these
are almost non-existent in the youths of our country.

Cultural awareness can be developed in different ways such as by organising Youth Cultural Camps. At
this camp, youths will be exposed to traditional skills and cultural values. Both of which are important
resources for preventing involvement in negative activities such as substance abuse, gangsters and
violence. Positive behaviour increases the capacity of the whole community to cope with change.

Understanding one‟s culture is an essential part of building culture. If someone is different, or holds
different beliefs, it does not mean he is bad or wrong. Although many educated adults understand
this, children or students often do not have the ability or knowledge to grasp this concept.

Being aware of our culture dynamics is a difficult task because culture is not conscious to us. Since
birth, we have learnt to see and do things at an unconscious level. Our experiences, our values and
our cultural backgrounds lead us to see and do things in a certain way. Sometimes we have to step
outside of our cultural boundaries in order to realize the impact that our culture has on our behaviour.
It is very helpful to gather feedback from foreign friends on our behaviour to get a clearer picture of
our culture traits.


Youth and Culture
By: Amzar Bin Hudzairi
Sekolah Menengah Tun Syed Sheh Shahabudin
Pulau Pinang , Malaysia

Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood (maturity). Definitions of the specific age
range that constitutes youth vary. Culture in Latin is cultura, lit. (“cultivation”) is a term that has many
different inter-related meanings. However, the word culture is most commonly used in three basic
senses which are excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture; an
integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behaviour that depends upon the capacity for
symbolic thought and social learning; and the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that
characterizes an institution, organization, or group.

In Wikipedia, youth culture is the sum of the ways of living of adolescents; it refers to the body of norms,
values, and practices recognized and shared by members of the adolescent society as appropriate
guides to actions. Youth culture is specific to adolescents, and differs at least partially from the culture
of older generations. Elements of youth culture include beliefs, behaviours, styles, and interests. An
emphasis on clothes, popular music, sports, vocabulary, and dating set adolescents apart from other
age groups, giving them what many believe is a distinct culture of their own.

The purpose of doing this research is to study whether youth culture is important to generate global
unity. Furthermore, this research has been done to prove that youths also have the ability to unite
people around the globe. To complete this task, three methods were used. They are Internet browsing,
literature review, and discussions and exchange of ideas among us. All these methods helped us to
achieve the objectives of this research. Based on this research, we successfully proved that youth are
able to generate global unity through culture.


K-Pop: The New Wave of Global Entertainment
By: Muhammad Hanif Omar Bin Mohd. Yazid
Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman,
Perak, Malaysia

The term “K-pop” is recognised as a rising youth culture globally. But most of us do not know what it
really is. K-pop, short for Korean Pop by definition is a musical genre consisting of dance, pop, hip hop,
electro-pop, rock, R&B and electronic music originating in South Korea. K-pop began gaining wider
international attention under the name of “the Korean Wave”, or Hallyu in Korean. The purpose of this
research is to identify the popularity of K-pop as a global youth culture. K-pop went through a process
of trial and error before it become famous. K-pop music is unique and catchy. It features a repetitive
chorus with a synchronized group dance, for example the song Nobody by Wonder Girls which became
a phenomenon.

K-pop has become a phenomenon around the globe through the Internet. The Korean management
agencies driving the K-pop craze have for the last several years been making active use of social
network services like Facebook and Twitter and operating their own channels on YouTube. Fans all
over the world copy the dance moves and upload them on YouTube, thus, attracting people around
the world to K-pop. Fans demand these K-pop groups to perform in their countries by doing flash
mobs and group dances to attract these artistes. From my research, I can conclude that despite its lack
of history, Korean pop culture sells itself as a global standard, and is now an integral part of Korea‟s
national image and brand, like Korean semi-conductors or Korean cars. This did not happen overnight:
it was a product of many years of hard work, planning, and investment.


Achieving Global Unity through Food
By: Meor Mohd Hakeem Bin Meor Hashim
Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan,
Perak, Malaysia

Establishing a strong bond among people from all around the world with food as its catalyst may sound
almost impossible and unachievable. However, with globalisation, the world has become smaller and
communities are more accepting of one another. Thus, nothing is impossible in these modern days.
Global unity can only be materialised if we focus on our common ties rather than on our differences,
and food, as we all know, has the power to get people to sit together. How can food achieve unity?
This is the issue that we have been pushing very hard; achieving global unity through food. Food is our
most valuable heritage. We work hard to improvise with our food to make them better, more delicious
and mouth-watering, without changing the recipes and by adding new spices and proteins. We change
the look but not the recipe. As the saying goes, to understand the food means to understand the
culture. We would like to introduce you to our four research outcomes which are globalisation of food,
uniqueness of delicacies, culinary education and government programmes. Understanding the culture
of a certain dish will help a lot in making this idea come to life. Food has its own ways of establishing
unity. Every country in the world, without exception, has its own signature dish that comes along with
a magnificent culture. We will guide you all the way in order to make you not only understand it but
actually want to be part of it. We will emphasise on the evolution of certain dishes that have become
a worldwide sensation. The dishes normally originated from far corners of the world and through
integration of cultures via education and marriage, have been modified, transformed and given a
new lease of life. All the significant points about the culture and origin of the food that we got from
interviewing people and mass media would be explained thoroughly throughout the presentation
session. Through these methods, global unity can be achieved, thus, making this world a better place
for the future generations to consider as home.


Multiculturalism Generates Mutual Tolerance among Nations
By: Safuan Bin Sabri
The Malay College Kuala Kangsar
Perak, Malaysia

A convergence of multiple races like this symposium is not a rarity in Malaysia. But the likelihood of
these conferences to generate a productive feedback to make a difference is slim. This is due to the fact
that understanding between cultures is not a subject that we speak of daily, thus, indoctrinating our
minds into a tenebrous box of stereotypical view. Without a proper understanding of one‟s culture,
diplomatic relationships between countries cannot be established. This can only be realised once
the representative of a nation, be he a student, diplomat, politician, world leader or, of the utmost
importance, society open their eyes and minds towards tolerating living in a diverse community. One
of the many problems that people are facing today is the arrogance of a culture in its refusal to accept
others. In this example, people don‟t see the relevance of multiculturalism.

This research has been conducted to show how multiculturalism contributes to the advancement of
society and the obstacles that we face to overcome cultural intolerance in trying to generate global
unity. In this era of globalisation, the differences between cultures can lead to the degradation of
peace and harmony. As long as there are people who cannot accept and tolerate a multicultural
society, a disruption of peace will arise. Therefore, we will also discuss the catch-22 of changing.


Gourmet’s Globalisation
By: Hana Maryam Binti Mohammad Kamal
Sekolah Menengah Sains Raja Tun Azlan Shah
Perak, Malaysia

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutrition. Food, which is consumed daily, is believed
to somehow connect us with the people around us. The variety of food plays an important role in
uniting people. Therefore, we are here with our research entitled Gourmet’s Globalisation to prove
to everyone that food indeed has brought human beings together over the centuries, with the hope
that everyone will trust us and cooperate with us to continue uniting people through cuisines. By
organizing open houses and attending festivals, we have observed the effectiveness of food in bringing
people together. The diversity in delicacies has indeed opened the minds of people to accept everyone
around us and ignore the differences that separate us. By doing so, food becomes the dominant factor
in uniting people globally. Its cross-cultural influence has attracted humans to understand more about
one‟s culture. Cuisines sure do act as an agent of fusion between people from all walks of life. It has
even become a medium to conserve the culture by preserving its taste and origins. Food creates
advantages out of differences, thus creating a special bond between people. After all, food really
does create unity in diversity. As a result, we can now see that humans are getting more tolerant and
open-minded in seeing things and giving opinions. They tend to think of others‟ cultures and customs
first before making a decision on something. This shows that food has a strong influence on people by
introducing them to one‟s culture. This proves that when Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher said Sharing
food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly, she was
absolutely right.


Nurturing Global Unity through Cultural Diversity
By :Mohamad Firdaus bin Mat Din
SBPI Gopeng,
Perak, Malaysia

What is cultural diversity? Culture is defined as an act in which a group of people or a society practice
every day in their daily life which eventually became their identity or tradition whereas diversity is
synonymic to variation. In other words, cultural diversity gives the meaning of a variety of tradition
and identity born from different societies. As we all know, the world today is experiencing an era
where unity is a must in order to sustain peace and harmony. In my paperwork, I would be glad to deal
with some aspect of global unity through cultural diversity. Unity through cultural diversity means to
explore and enhance a common value that emphasizes interdependence, equality, justice, human
rights and the sanctity of each individual dignity. Our goal is to further a unified vision and recognition
of the principal of “Unity and Diversity”. In Malaysia, our Prime Minister had successfully introduced
a well-accepted policy which is 1 Malaysia and the policy unites all Malaysians. The same goes to a
wider scope, the global community where cooperation between countries is very crucial. Through
this, we can build a more inclusive community grounded in respect of differences based on races,
culture, religion, gender, political affiliation and ethnicity. In the process of nurturing global unity, we
are able to identify four important principals that need to be practised by the world community in
order to turn this dream into a reality. The four principals are:

• to honour the dignity of each race that stands in this world
• to create a basic equality among all humans
• to execute universal human rights
• to establish a fundamental in freedom of thought, conscience and belief

I believe that through these principals we are able to generate world unity.


Food- A Recipe for Our Unity
By: Norazeera Bte Al-Wahab
Sekolah Menengah Sains Tapah
Perak, Malaysia

It is not exaggerating when we say food can be a catalyst for unity. When we talk about food, it is
important for us to understand the heritage of the food we digest. We should also understand what
food can generate; what the government can generate through food. Food itself is a culture. It brings
the world together. These days, we are left with the impression that social networks, technology as
well as gadgets are the mediums that unite the world. What we have failed to realize is that we have
been underestimating how much food has helped in the process. In fact, food is one of the main
reasons why people have been bonding around the world in the first place. In the presentation to
come, the bent will be straightened; the dark will be lit and the lost will be found. The presentation will
be full of answers for questions that may or may not have run through your minds when you consider
our catalyst. Explanations will be given about the how, why and what proves food as the recipe for the
delicious unity among the nations around the globe, how the government can help in the making of
this particular recipe and how this can affect us, the younger generations, the generations before as
well as the ones to come. Let us show you the ingredients, let us feed you your cravings and let us fulfil
your appetite. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the meal. Let us indulge you, because yes,
food is the recipe for unity. Ironic, isn‟t it?


Cultural Understanding Generates Global Unity:
By: Muhammad Hazemm Iman Bin Azlee
Sekolah Menengah Sains Bagan Datoh,
Perak, Malaysia

For many people, language is not just a medium of communication but is also a part of culture. Culture
is defined in various ways. The definition usually includes some notion of shared values, beliefs,
expectations, customs, jargon, and rituals. Language is the set of common sounds and symbols by
which individuals communicate (Shelling, 1960). Multiculturalism seems to be on the rise around the
world. One of the most tangible proofs is the recent growth of bilingual and multilingual education.

It is great that all residential schools in Malaysia require students to take up a foreign language,
however, a few auxiliary ventures need to be taken in order to help the students understand the
relationship between language and culture and how it helps to promote global unity. As cliché as it
may sound, Language Month is an activity carried out in school to promote the use of the different
languages. Throughout the month, students are not just exposed to the linguistic aspect and its
appreciation, but also how it is related to the culture of the people who speak the language.

This programme is carried out biannually in SABDA, specifically, in the months of April and September.
Through activities carried out, the students could generate a kind of unique new mentality that is able
to form a spirit of individualism with surprising ability to adapt, receive and celebrate global unity
together. These activities can diminish barriers such as cultural, racial and social which surround the
native society; these barriers imbue the society with amplified prejudices towards foreign languages.


By : Nur ‘Adillah Bt. Mohd Anuar
Sekolah Menengah Sains Kuala Selangor,
Selangor, Malaysia

In a world where different types of people living in different countries, there is bound to be different
cultures. What is culture? And most importantly, how do we discover our own culture and different
people`s culture from different countries?

Logically, we would know what our culture is, based on the things that we do and see everyday, but to
understand it completely, we would have to spend some time to gain knowledge about it. To understand
other people`s culture, we would have to put much more effort because misunderstanding towards
it might lead to a global disaster. Therefore, it is important that we understand each others culture
so that we can gain global unity. Art is something considered to be very complicated to understand,
especially if it does not originate from our own country. To understand art, one must be interested in
it and not take it as something simple.

The two major sides I am about to elaborate on is arts of the West and arts of the East. I will only
elaborate on Malaysia for there are too many countries from the East. Western music, paintings,
literature and stage performing technique have grown literally global, while Eastern countries such
as Malaysia, likes to keep its tradition alive and only modernize its music and other artistic values so
that it would be more eye-catching and attractive to younger generations. By being open-minded and
look at the positive side of things, I believe that we can reach global unity by uniting global cultures
because possibilities are endless and the results are only known after the experiment is done.


Young Urban and Profesional
By : Nurl Nadiah Nabilah Bte Abdullah
Sekolah Menengah Agama Persekutuan Kajang,
Selangor, Malaysia

A very obvious global culture that is in-trend right now is the explosion of yuppies. What exactly
are yuppies? It is a term coined to describe a group of people within the age range of 25 – 40 who
want the perfect career and life i.e. young, urban and professional. It is a commonly held belief that
having something in common with someone else no matter how different the two parties are can be
a mutual ground for them to start a conversation. Therefore, through this project we strive to prove
that students aspiring to be yuppies have a common background for them to communicate hence
spurring interaction between youths and forming a socially cohesive network. The aim of the proposed
research is to identify students‟ level of communication with people with whom they have things in
common. Through this research we hope to find answers to the following questions: First, how many
students are willing to join the global village by aspiring to be a yuppie? Second, what is the level of
readiness among students to generate world unity in terms of their ability to use the English Language
as a means of communication at the international level? Third, how equipped are these students to
become global citizens with regards to their intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual readiness?
Respondents involved are 173 Form Five students of Sekolah Menengah Agama Persekutuan Kajang.
Data collection involves a survey using a questionnaire constructed by the school counselling unit.
Analysis of percentage is done on the data and the results are described in percentage using graphs
and tables. The research findings will be used by the school to ensure students are able to create a
social network within the society.


Unity Starts from the Tummy
By: Ainaa Najihah Bte Abdul Rahim
SBPI Sabak Bernam
Selangor, Malaysia

In history, food has been an essential need for survival. Mankind hunted, fished and even killed just
to satisfy their hunger to avoid starvation. As years passed, food has evolved from being the sole
necessity, to a luxury item. Food has become one of life‟s greatest pleasures. Every person in every
country has his own culinary preference. Although each of us has different tastes, we all share the
same love for food.

Malaysia, the melting pot of cultures, not to mention the centre of diverse cuisines, has cuisines from
many races and cultures, among which are Indian style cooking, Chinese food, and Malay cuisine. The
best part is that even though there are so many types of food with different tastes, everyone usually
likes to eat them. This is proven in most food courts throughout Malaysia that sell capati, wantan, nasi
lemak, and other wonderful food.

When we talk about the cuisines of the world, we are talking about the international appetite around
the globe. Many of us realize that all the cuisines have various styles of cooking and also various kinds
of tastes. However, all of these foods can be acquired in our own country, Malaysia. This shows that
food is becoming a factor for bringing nations together.

Although we don‟t share the same traditions, apparently we all share the same taste for food. Simply
by sharing our food we are not only satisfying our tummy, we would also be able to share our culture
with others; this is because we believe in the phrase that “you are what you eat”. So, what you eat is
how you live.


Arts and Culture Understanding Generates Global Unity
By: Syahirah Huda Bte Abd Rahman
SBPI Rawang
Selangor, Malaysia

As we are living in the 21st century, art plays a large part in making our lives infinitely richer. Imagine,
just for a minute, a world without art and the impact that lack of graphics would have on your
favourite video games or even your favourite website. Art stimulates different parts of our brains and
gives us a way to be creative and express ourselves. Besides, art is also something that makes us more
thoughtful and well-rounded humans.

There have been a lot of art exhibitions being held globally, almost anytime and anywhere, and it has
encouraged me to come up with a paper on this very topic – Arts and Culture.

In my paper, I would like to deal with various aspects of both arts and culture which I find very
interesting in the current state of the world. This paper attempts to offer possible initiatives on how
we, youths of today and leaders of tomorrow, can play a vital role in promoting arts and global culture
to generate world unity.

Instilling interest in arts and culture among the society is not an easy task. So I believe that today‟s
youth is the key. Youths are the medium and the first step towards promoting arts and culture, and
the only way forward is to start with today‟s generation.

In my paper, I will propose the initiatives and efforts on how we could promote arts and culture
between the different religions and races and how we can play our role. Youth can show the way to
foster cooperation, instead of competing and highlighting differences, in the hope that this will help
to promote arts and culture globally; thus, contributing to world unity in general.


Decoding Malaysia
By: Aiman Azfar bin A. Rahman
Sekolah Menengah Sains Alam Shah,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Nations around the world are racing to pursue modernization parallel to the progress experienced
by other nations at the cost of humanity and unity in their society. However, this is not the case for
Malaysia, as the diversity is turned into an asset to generate unity through the uniqueness of her
culture. The root of her diverse cultures can be traced through history to the colonization era during
which there was migration of labourers and skilled workers from China and India. These changed the
landscape of Malaysia forever. The Chinese brought, among others, their lion dance and the Indians
gave us with their exotic clothing. As time went by, these cultures and customs were integrated and
has been assimilated and adapted by the natives. This variety of cultures mingled, thus, generating
unity through the new norm of the community such as found during festive occasions. Proof
of assimilation can be seen through the monuments, artefacts, food and historical places around
Malaysia. By successfully overcoming the adversity of racism, Malaysia has become the benchmark for
other nations to achieve unity by utilizing their diversity of culture. Our paper will deal with how this
diversified customs and cultures make what Malaysia what she is today. The objective of this research
is to prove how these cultures have made their way into our lives making us Malaysian. We also try
to find how these different backgrounds show themselves in our modern Malaysia via our buildings,
artefacts, food and the remnants of buildings/monuments. We relied quite heavily on our peers and
teachers to respond to our questionnaire. We also spent a significant number of hours surfing the
Internet for the details that we need. The outcome proves that the cultures have successfully merged
and is considered the native culture, thus, indirectly generating unity.


Global Culture Generates World Unity : Culture Preservation
By: Syahirah Hanis Bte Abd Ghafar
Sekolah Menengah Sains Seri Puteri,

Global unity ensues from an evolving awareness and ongoing support of universal values and issues
amid appreciation of diversity. These values and issues include peace, compassion, respect, justice,
equality, social responsibility, human rights, and environmental preservation. Objectives:

• To study more about culture of multiracial society in Malaysia;
• To build cross-cultural understanding and provide vital services to communities; and
• To create awareness among Malaysians to practise culture which will further enhance global unity.

Our research was based on observation of the status quo of the surrounding. We also did some
research on this issue on the Internet. The outcomes of our research are we get to appreciate multi-
cultural and multi-racial harmony in Malaysia and inculcate the value of respecting others . We can
understand people all around us better and instigate good communication. We are now more aware
of the importance of preserving our culture. One defines culture as the way of living developed and
transmitted by a group of human beings, consciously or unconsciously, to subsequent generations.
To be precise, ideas, beliefs, values, attitudes, and traditions become accepted and standardised in a
particular group as an attempt to meet continuing needs. By preserving a country‟s local customs, a
better understanding among the citizens of a nation can be achieved. When peace is a sure thing in our
country, it is not impossible for the people of this whole world to achieve the best of global unity and
live happily regardless of their differences in life. Architecture also plays an important role in cultural
preservation. Old buildings should be preserved as their architecture symbolises the hardships faced
by our ancestors to protect this country. Do not let our culture and history die with our ancestors, or
we might not be able to live harmoniously as we are doing now.


Cultural Diversity
By: Alya Farhanah Binti Mohd Tarmizee
Sekolah Menengah Sains Selangor,

Culture exists everywhere in the world. Malaysia has all it takes to be a melting pot of cultures with
her uniqueness. The cultures are many and rich in their own beauty. The people are able to maintain
racial harmony and live peacefully. The diversity of global culture has cast a spell on the whole world,
showing how it can generate unity between countries as well as strengthen ties between two or more
races. Therefore, culture is undeniably, a part of everyone‟s life. We can never be separated from
culture as it would always be around us.

The theme Global Culture Generates World Unity demonstrates the dire need for everyone to
understand the diverse cultures of the world in order to achieve ultimate unity. We would then
understand and respect other cultures, thus preventing wars and conflicts due to cultural differences.
Diversity of culture in this era might somehow be confused with other cultures since cultural
assimilation has been happening throughout the years. Without understanding, one can never know
the true meaning.

The methods used in this study include gathering information from the Internet and observing the
latest issues on cultural differences in a school. The information gathered shows that many aspects of
culture such as language, tradition, food, customs and rituals lead to ultimate unity.

This paper also shows that learning a new culture helps in fostering the unity.

“We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird
names and different in colours. But, they all fit nicely into the same box.”


Arts and Culture Understanding Generates Global Unity
By: Mohammad Arif Husaini Bte Azaman
SBPI Gombak,
Selangor, Malaysia

Globalisation is neither the panacea which will cure mankind of all problems and conflicts nor is it
the ultimate calamity that will strike down the cultures of the world. To be sure, globalisation has
enormous effects on cultural heritage. Globalisation has been, perhaps, the most significant force in
creating and proliferating cultural identity, and of unifying the world.

All the peoples of the world are different; they have their own identities derived from their indigenous
cultural backgrounds and their personal value systems. It is also important to understand that people
do have a great deal in common. Every person, at a fundamental level, needs more or less the same
things such as acceptance, respect, love, security, peace and generally, a good life. Their differences
are what make this world a vibrant and creative place to live.

To succeed in this increasingly borderless world, one needs to go beyond the familiar and embrace the
unfamiliar and the diverse; one must tolerate and accept different customs, behaviours, languages,
attitudes and values. However, certain values such as humanity are still important to maintain a
peaceful world. In order to have such values, it is important for the youths to internalise them at
a young age, preferably at home, to enable them to practise them in society. Young people in this
regard have a special role to play. They are most at stake; it is they who will inherit the problems
created today and yesterday. Therefore, young people have the right, not just the responsibility, to be
equipped with a good set of values. As a society then, the youths will learn to accept and be tolerant
of each other‟s cultures and should be willing to share them with the world.


Cultural Preservation
By: Mohd Nazmi Bin Zamali
Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah,
Putrajaya, Malaysia

For thousands of years, during which human civilisation has been evolving, the evolution of human
culture which encompasses the way they live has been a never ending process, but at the end of the
century, mankind underwent tremendous economic progress and technological advancements, and
inadvertently, they ignored their cultural heritage. As a result of letting go of what their forefathers
had shaped for generations, their whole-hearted adoption of a way life which is in contrast to their
parents‟, brings about many socio-cultural issues, and the most prevalent is the corrosion of values
which occurs in society when the moral and ethical aspects of a culture fails to impress its youth.

Besides that, another issue is the razing of heritage sites, regardless of whether they are UNESCO-
gazetted or otherwise. How are our children to feel the aura of the past which would be idling in the
halls of these places?

Aside from the issue of the missing link in our heritage, the tourism industry would be affected as
well, since their absence would lead to the reduction in the number of tourists. A solution to this issue
would be to make amendments to the legislation in which there exist some loopholes that enable
irresponsible people to manipulate the bureaucracy.

Another issue which arises as a result of the dramatic change in the way of life is people not appreciating,
and to a certain extent, forgetting their cultural heritage, for example people wearing traditional garbs
or playing traditional games. It is not wrong to change one‟s way of life and embrace globalisation,
but it is wrong when someone denies his or her cultural roots. A solution to this epidemic is to instil in
children an appreciation for their culture.


Culture Vibes
By : Nurshahirah Rozman
Sekolah Seri Puteri,
Cyberjaya, Malaysia

Global culture is broad and all encompassing and unique and complex in its definition that there
should not be one single opinion on what it is. Global culture is something shared in common by the
global society including ideology, beliefs and customs. This being the case, one in particular is very
close to being nearly perfect overall definition.

Cultural diversity is a range of different societies or people with different origins, religions and traditions
all living and interacting together. The ideology of global culture generates world unity is something
that the youth should be aware of in reaching the objective of world unity. The youngsters have to
think out of the box on strategies to understand world culture in order to create bonding for unity in
this world. Certain activities such as exchange programmes and introduction of international studies
in schools for better tolerance among nation are some of the most effective ways in achieving the
ideology of generating world unity. The great unity in our world will contribute to a great development
in every aspect, so it is proven that global culture is thus an important asset that is indispensable for
poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development in everything. In a nut shell, we
as the leaders of tomorrow should think beyond the boundaries of our minds and work for broader
goals of enhancing the unity of the modern world.


Food and Unity
By: Ahmad Solihin Bin Ishak
Sekolah Menengah Sains Banting
Selangor, Malaysia

Food is commonly known as things that people or animals eat, meanwhile, unity is known as the
state of being in agreement and working hand-in-hand or being joined together to form one unit
(Oxford Advanced Learner‟s Dictionary, 2010). This paper aims to approach the subject of how food
can strengthen the ties between cultures.

Local food represents the local culture and despite the ethnic differences there are commonalities,
culturally speaking. Food, thus, act as a medium to unite different cultures throughout the country
and provide global unity. Students of various races are interviewed and a simple instrument is used.
Data is also obtained from research findings and writings, both in Malaysia and overseas. Local
cuisine, primarily consisting of Malay, Chinese and Indian food, has its hybrid derived from cross
cultural influences such as Mamak (Indian Muslim) and Nyonya (the Malay-Chinese mix). Food is one
way to make people happy. It can also unite people from all walks of life and cultures. Food brings
love, peace and compassion to the table. Gotong royong is one of the effective ways of enhancing
racial integration. It brings together all races while cleaning housing areas or cooking for feasts. This
shows the spirit of unity when they carry out the Gotong royong together. The food is cooked by
many races in their own way. This will allow the guests to taste many kinds of food. In a nutshell, this
paper concludes that food and unity will complement each other in many ways. The food that we
eat leads to a different aroma of unity. Malaysians can unite as one big family through the sharing of
Malaysian food. In the attempt to achieve this goal, all Malaysians must bear responsibility to help
achieve greater integration and stronger national unity.


Cultural Understanding Generates Global Unity :
An Islamic Perspective
By: Fitri Hanif Bin Mansor
Sekolah Menengah Agama Persekutuan Labu,
Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

If we are to open our eyes wide enough to see through the windows of the world, we would realize
that there is an uncountable number of cultures in the place where we are now. So, the point is,
how we are supposed to use the abundance of culture is seen as an important component, an asset
rather than a liability of development. However, the variety of culture itself will not contribute to the
development unless it comes with understanding. As we could see, the government in our country
itself is pin-pointing on 1 Malaysia because it is that which helps in developing the country. However,
the world nowadays is facing greater challenges to achieve global unity. The world as we see it is marred
and charred with riots, quarrels and the worst scenario that could happen is for example the riots in
Egypt where wars, battles, weapons, and killing are involved. Such incidents are the consequences of
when there is lack of cultural understanding, and also when people are dismissing it unintentionally
due to being influenced by their emotions. That is why; we should have a mechanism to implant
cultural understanding in every individual. Fortunately, Islam in its fundamental and principles already
have the required formula to work with. Without doubt, if we are able to fully utilize what Islam has
to offer, the world will be a place of peace


Culture throughout History
By: Nadiah Syahirah
Kolej Tunku Kurshiah,

Background: Culture has many different inter-related meanings. One of the common definitions is
„The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterises an institution, organization,
or group.‟ Throughout the centuries, cultural differences had been divided by continents, i.e. Western
and Asian. We can further divide it into European, American, Middle Eastern and South East Asian
and Chinese. Globalisation and modern technology have caused socio-cultural evolution resulting in
assimilation of culture.

Objective: To determine the extent of socio-cultural evolution due to globalisation and its effects on
community and global unity.

Methodology: Analysing the various printed materials such as TIMES, ASIAWEEK, Economist, and
other renowned magazines, materials acquired from the Internet from evidence-based sources,
brainstorming sessions amongst youth aged 16-17 years old and a few expert panellists.

Results and Summary: Socio-cultural evolution is unavoidable in this current millennium. Assimilation
of culture is good to a certain extent. However, total assimilation can result in losing one‟s identity and
stereotyping of communities. The youths need to be united to create cultural awareness, and respect
for each other. We need to uphold our integrity and equality, and preserve cultural diversity. Cultural
diversity should be our strength and we should accept our differences and work harder towards the
betterment of humankind.


Cultural Awareness and Respect – The Key to World Unity
By:Anas B Ab Aziz
Sekolah Dato’ Abdul Razak,

In this era of rapid technological advancement, the vision of a better world is not one which comprises
innumerable scientific breakthroughs or epic discoveries. Instead, the vision of a better world is a
world where people from diverse cultures are able to settle their differences and collaborate to solve
the greatest problem our world is facing today – disunity. This paper will delve into how we can strive
for world unity and resolve our most divisive conflicts. The key to this lies in the change of mind-
set. There are four types of mind-sets –„My Way Is the Only Way‟, „I Know Their Way but My Way
Is Better‟, “My Way and Their Way‟, and „Our Way”. What the world needs today is people with
“Our Way‟ mind-set. One of the ways to achieve this is by creating cultural awareness among the
people. This entails the acquisition of cultural knowledge, cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity and
cultural competence. The digestion, integration and transformation of all these skills and knowledge
are imperative for cultural synergy to happen and ultimately, for unity to materialize.


The Roles of Youth in Preserving the Heritage in Malaysia
By: Nazrin Hakim Bte Nazaruddin
Sekolah Menengah Sains Tuanku Jaafar,

The united nation has stated that every country has her own natural and unique heritage. Today,
due to urbanisation, a large number of our world heritages have been destroyed in the name of
development.

Youth is the period of transition from being a child to becoming an adult. Youths are the ones who will
hold the reign of leadership for the next generation. Hence, they have a big responsibility to continue
administrating the world. In order to create true leaders, today‟s youths should realise that their role
in society is vital.

Heritage includes the history, religions, cultures and traditions that a country has had for many years.
They hold a special bond among the people of the world. Each country always tries to show her
identity through her heritage. Thus, it is crucial to highlight the detrimental effects if heritage is not
preserved.

To create a better world, the youths need to know that the world today will not be as it is if not for
the leaders of today who have preserved and sustained the heritage of the nation as they go for
development and modernisation.

As Malaysians, heritage has a dear place in our hearts since we live in a multiracial country with races
such as Malays, Chinese, and Indians to name just a few. Thus, showing how important the role of
youth is in maintaining their heritage is essential for unity and peace to be conserved.


Cultural Awareness and Respect
By : Muhammad Naufal Mohmad Shahrir
Sekolah Menengah Sains Tuanku Munawwir,

Malaysia had garnered the world‟s attention for her ability and capability to maintain the unity of
the nation. Despite criticisms, Malaysia is still able to stand strong due to the cultural awareness
and respect among the people of the different races. Based on this awareness, we will show you the
importance of having cultural awareness and respect in order to achieve the mission of generating
global unity.

Our presentation will be packed with ideas to generate global unity. We believe that global unity
will only be achieved if each country prioritises the building of unity among her citizens. Our main
objective is to show that global unity is possible if we have respect and are aware of the culture that is
practised by others. All and all, we truly believe that everyone plays a vital role in making the mission
a reality. Thus, we will emphasize the roles that we should play and those that we should discard.

In conclusion, culture is part and parcel of life. Tolerating and respecting other cultures would bring
us eternal peace and if we keep practising this great value, there would be no doubt that global unity
is here to stay.


Engaging Youth in Culture Preservation
By:Muhammad Adib Bin Kamarulzaman
SBPI Jempol,

Culture is the representation of the sum of all our life‟s experiences – our language, beliefs, rituals,
food, clothing and so on. Culture is our touchstone, our point of reference, our identity. Preserving
one‟s culture can be likened to preserving the fabric of one‟s existence in the world. The intensity
of change and globalization in the twentieth century put the sites, arts and artefacts, language and
intellectual property of many cultures in danger of destruction. There is a worrying tendency for youth
to forgo their distinctive culture in place of technological advancement and mass consumerism. If
the conservation ethic is not instilled in the youth of today, cultures will diminish at the hands of
ignorance, negligence and encroachment in the future. The importance of culture must be internalized
in youth through active engagement in culture preservation by harnessing their potential in the field
of education, through their awareness and involvement. An inclusive education which sensitize youth
to the cultural elements in their community is paramount to developing healthy cultural identities.
Youths with strong cultural ties are more likely to respect and interact peacefully with other cultures.
Raising awareness of the value of culture helps to safeguard oral traditions, performing arts, social
practices and other expressions handed down through generations, allowing youths to make informed
decisions. Getting youths involved through participation in apprenticeships, volunteering, exchange
programmes, networking and intercultural dialogues can foster interest in culture and mobilize youths
to take up leadership roles. Youth‟s inquisitiveness and creativity, as well as their natural ability to
forge links beyond their own group, position them as potent agents who can safeguard culture.


Breaking Barriers, Widening Horizons
By: Nik Aliaa Qistina Binti Nik Zulkipli
Sekolah Menengah Sains Rembau,

Prejudice, discrimination, ignorance – a norm in today’s society and our utmost fear, and it is going
from bad to worse. It is growing to a bigger scale, taking a massive toll on our most valuable treasure,
our culture. The rise in ethnic tensions and wars raging between nations are tarnishing our world
like cancer cells that mercilessly ravage through our body and kill us in the most painful way to a
slow death. This is why we, as youths of the current generation and leader of the future, have to
make a stand together to embrace the differences in the world in order to create a better future for
mankind. After much research, we have identified the root cause of the disintegration of culture.
Ever since World War II, people have discovered the necessities to achieve a world built entirely on
understanding and the importance of breaking mental barriers to go beyond. These barriers have
prevented us from responding to the call for a better tomorrow. In line with this, we must first re-
evaluate the potential of youth that plays a pivotal role in moulding a better world for we, the youths,
are the voices of the future generation and are responsible for estasblishing a better world.


Food and Unity
By: Muhammad Fadil Firdaus bin Anuar
SBPI Selandar,
Melaka, Malaysia

Food, as defined in the dictionary, is any substance that provides the nutrients necessary to maintain
life and growth when ingested. The culinary history throughout time is indigenous to each civilization
and is often recognised as having its own identity. Malaysia, as a cosmopolitan country, has a potpourri
of races of her own, each with its own unique culinary history and traditions.

In Malaysia, the Malays created nasi lemak which is rice cooked in coconut milk over 200 years ago.
Most Malaysian food consist rice served with meat and vegetables. On the other hand, the Chinese
are famous for their noodles and moon cakes. They have their own unique style of cooking and serving
food. In addition, the Indians brought roti canai and chapati to our country.

Even though there are many and varied food to be found in each of these cultures, they are able to
share and eat each other‟s dishes. The Malays might eat chapati while the Chinese would eat nasi
lemak. However, as time passes these foods are combined by the creativity of the cooks to make
signature dishes which are truly Malaysian. Clearly, food can bring unity to people and it is surely
possible on a global scale.

Culinary skills and ingredients have been transported and exported by our ancestors since the beginning
of time. Food has brought happiness and also brought together people of different backgrounds.
During festivals, people of different races and religions come together to prepare numerous variations
of food in harmony.

Nonetheless, there are many challenges in using food on a global scale. Each religion may have
different taboos and opinions about food. However, the numerous combinations of flavours and
textures of different cuisines can and has brought a multitude of people together. Thus, food can be
a catalyst for world peace.

Global Culture:
The Act of Understanding Multiculturalism
By: Adlina Ab Rahim
Sekolah Menengah Sains Muzaffar Syah,
Melaka, Malaysia

We live in a multicultural world where we are divided by lands and seas, nationalities, languages,
religions and different cultural perspectives. Due to this, a conflict of interests and misunderstandings
usually arises when two people from different cultural backgrounds meet. We cannot take this matter
lightly as it can create a barrier between the global society and a balanced advancement for all nations.
Through research and analysis of some case studies, we have found that the only way to solve this
problem is to find similarities and construct a culture, which not only offers understanding, peace and
cultural harmony, but also preserves each and every culture‟s personal character and individuality.
This is considered to be a guideline to international interactions and hopefully will develop into a
global culture for every individual who considers himself or herself a positive inhabitant of lovely
Mother Earth.


The Modern Nightmare
By: Alya Hazira Binti Mohamad Kassim
Sekolah Tun Fatimah,
Johor, Malaysia

It is sad to see many children nowadays being brought up in an environment where hate and distrust
surrounds them.

Racism originates not in the skin but in the human mind. Remedies to racial prejudice, xenophobia
and intolerance must accordingly address first and foremost those mental illusions that have for eons
given rise to false concepts of superiority and inferiority among human populations.

We believe that this nightmare has emerged because the modern generation neither understands
nor accepts each other‟s culture. This is a major problem as when people do not have a common
ground to stand on, all hell would break loose. It is reasonable to say that we can solve this problem
by employing culture as a medium for global unity. Even our Prime Minister has stated that Malaysia’s
cultural, racial and religious diversity is not a hindrance for the people to enjoy harmony without
major differences that could cause conflicts.

He also said that the diversity has instead become the country’s source of strength and pride, and this
created an ideal condition for the society to live in harmony and solidarity.

On the other hand, we are witnessing a new modern wave that is emerging and flourishing. With the
help of modern technology and communication, it transcends borders easily and even reaches rich
and poor countries, young and old, east or west, north or south and makes no distinction at all on its
way.

Cultural awareness is being appreciative and recognising that people are different all over the world.
It means being tolerant and sensitive in many situations and controlling our attitude towards others.


Intermarriage as a Catalyst to Improve Global Unity
By: Yasmin Binti Mohd Zan
Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar,
Johor, Malaysia

In globalised era, increasing population has placed demands on unity. It is believed that international
marriage is an instrument for unity. Nearly 1 in 7 marriages in 2008 was interracial or inter-ethnic,
according to a report released by the Pew Research Centre Friday. That is more than double the
intermarriage rate of the 1980s and six times the intermarriage rate of the 1960s. Most Americans
said that they approve of interracial marriage, with more than six in ten saying that they are okay if
a family member marries outside of his or her group. Thirty-five per cent said they already have a
family member who is married to someone of a different race or ethnicity. Intermarriage promotes
the conversion of culture and indirectly catalyses unity. The objective of this paper is to elaborate on
and demonstrate how intermarriage ignites global unity. It will also states the benefits and provides
information on the requirements of international marriages. Multiple researches have been done to
prove that the union between two races will produce offspring with better genes. Researchers find
that multiracial offspring can adjust better socially. And with high-profile success of multiracial progeny
such as Maya Karin, Tun Hussein Onn, Halle Berry and President Obama, stereotypes about the split
world of the tragic mulatto have long fallen by the wayside. Moreover, this paper is an effort to turn
society‟s attention towards the role of international marriages in achieving the spirit of togetherness.
In addition, it is also an initiative to help instil a strong awareness of the state of unity, for instance,
now the number of Americans who identify themselves as belonging to more than one race has gone
up by 33 per cent since 2000. This is evidence that through intermarriage unity can be achieved.


A Study of Students’ Perceptions of Hedonistic Culture among Youths
in SMS Johor
By: Muhd Aizat Bin NoorAzman
Sekolah Menengah Sains Johor
Johor, Malaysia

Culture can be described in many ways in which human beings express themselves for the purposes
of uniting with others, forming a group, defining an identity, and even for distinguishing themselves
as unique. Even with the diverse cultures all around the world, there are no major issues associated
to culture. However, a new culture has crept into the society, „The Hedonistic Culture‟. Putting an
emphasis on self-pleasure, this culture has the potential to undermine the efforts to create an ideal
society. Therefore, this research was carried out to gather information on hedonism including activities
related to it, the effects of hedonism and the solutions to this predicament. The research instrument
was a 16-item questionnaire that was designed to identify student‟s knowledge and perception of
hedonistic culture. The respondents consist of 50 upper secondary students from Sekolah Menengah
Sains Johor. The research found that 95% of the respondents have relatively low knowledge of
hedonism. They are unaware of the impact of hedonism in their lives. Finally, the findings revealed
that awareness of hedonistic culture is insufficient and clearly shows that there is an urgent need to
overcome this problem.


Nurturing Global Unity through Cultural Diversity
By: Fairuz Najihah binti Kamaruddin
Sekolah Menengah Sains Kota Tinggi,
Johor, Malaysia

Irrespective of the country that we live in, it will always be better to stay in a place which has a
diversified culture. Cultural diversity is when you have people from different countries who of course
have different beliefs, speak different languages, male and female living and working together
peacefully.

A culture can be differentiated through many ways, depending on what angle you look it from. The way
we live, the food we eat, the language we speak, the costumes we wear, the festivals we celebrate,
and the habits we can never run away from, gives the others a picture of what culture we practise.
When we live together in a place where there are a variety of cultures, it is certainly much more
interesting, enhancing and exciting.

When we get to know others coming from a different background, it would certainly spark an interest
towards each other. Interests lead to understanding and by then only can you learn how to respect
each other. Therefore the objective of this research is to understand and reinforce the belief that the
more diversified the culture between two groups, the easier it is to get attracted to each other.

To require information about global cultures, a few Q&A sessions are done with the teachers in the
school who have studied overseas. Reading the newspapers or magazines and surfing the internet are
another option to obtain ideas about other cultures. Simple surveys had been done in towns nearby
to see how cautious the people in Malaysia about other races.

As the outcome, it should be understood that there can never be unity, locally or globally, without
getting to know each other first. This is easily done when we are attracted to each other because of
the diversity of the cultures around us.


Culture Preservation Generates Global Unity
By: Nur Naqiuddin Bin Mdd Nordin
Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Iskandar,
Johor, Malaysia

Culture preservation is very crucial to conserve the identity of a nation. In fact, culture is one of the
main aspects in generating global unity as it can function as a bridge between nations. Therefore,
creating awareness and understanding of own as well as other cultures is vital to creating mutual
understanding across cultures. People need to understand and accept the similarities and differences
between different cultures to maintain and preserve the identity of each nation towards the creation of
a global unity. In general, this study is conducted to understand the importance of culture preservation
in enhancing global unity. Besides, this study also exposes people‟s awareness of their own culture,
and their respect and understanding of other people‟s cultures. There is a set of questionnaire which
is divided into four sections: language, custom, art and food, which is used to obtain the necessary
data. The respondents are Malaysian students aged 16 to 17 years old. The results show that most of
the respondents are aware of their own culture as well as other cultures. Most of them agreed that
culture awareness is a key to maintaining ones identity where the target is the building of a strong
and united nation in order to sustain world peace and harmony. Thus, the study reaffirms that culture
preservation is very important to maintain the identity of a nation. In addition, knowing and sharing
knowledge about other cultures give a positive impact where people can understand and respect
others and automatically generate togetherness among nations.


Great Food Great Nation: Celebrating Diversity
By: Muhammad Nurazwan Rahim
SM Sains Sembrong,
86000 Kluang, Johor, Malaysia

Food is the other thing besides sports that unite people. We are proud of our food, which is part
of our diverse culture. It is more than a commodity that we consume every day. It has a role of
uniting people instead of differentiating people. In a culturally rich country such as Malaysia, food is
something that all of us enjoy, although in different ways. It reflects the unique „faces‟ and cultures
of the races associated with the food. Globalisation also means that the world has become smaller
and information spreads at the push of a button. Because of this, people around the world have
become more adventurous with food. Hence promoting local delicacies to the international arena
can be made faster and simpler. This is not only profitable for businesses but also instils a sense of
pride among Malaysians when our own delightful delicacies go global. In this paper I will talk about
the variety of food that reflects the diverse races in Malaysia and how food can play a role in uniting
people from all walks of life. I will also recommend ways in which local delicacies can be promoted
worldwide as a way of promoting Malaysia‟s ethnic and diverse cultures.


UNITY IN DIVERSITY
By: Muhammad Irfan Syafiq bin Mohd Anuar
Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Hj Ahmad Shah,
Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

In this era of globalisation interactions among people from every nook and cranny of the world have
gone wider and faster, which has led to the emergence of the global culture. Despite the idyllic notion
of global culture, universally defined as one culture practiced by everyone across the globe, one may
wonder why racial misunderstandings, conflicts, and even hate crimes still occur all over the world.

Thus, this paper intends to discover the concept of global culture by identifying the needs for a global
culture, as well as the drawbacks of living it, in order to derive at one conclusion, i.e. whether it is a
healthy practice or otherwise.

We gathered empirical data through our observations of people‟s responses and opinions on cultural
issues via various online forum sites, video clips of academic talks and dialogues, as well as through
studies of scholarly writings and related articles.

Our study reveals that global culture could bring both harm and benefits to the people and the culture
itself. Global culture is needed to eliminate misunderstandings, fight extremism, prevent culture
shock, avoid conflicts or wars, and abolish ethnocentrism. However, global culture has also been
proven to have brought negativity. Studies have identified that global culture has caused culture clash,
loss of cultural identity, cultural pattern invasion and cultural imperialism that leads to ethnocentrism,
xenocentrism and parochialism.

Further study also proves that the current definition of global culture is misleading. It doesn‟t exist
due to the vast diversity of cultures from the world‟s various ethnicities. However, we concur to the
fact that globalization has caused traditional cultures to be reshaped or even eliminated.

The conclusion derived from this study is that diversity should be appreciated and the differences that
arise should be addressed with respect and understanding, so that we‟ll sustain the unity in diversity.


Cultural Diversity:
The Gateway to Malaysia’s Harmony and Prosperity
By: Mohammad Asyraff Zulkif B Mohd Yusof
Sekolah Menengah Sains Tengku Abdullah,
Pahang, Malaysia

Cultural diversity has brought about multi-racial conflicts into the world ever since people became
literate. Perhaps in the old days, it was not the culture itself that had become the issue, but the
differences that had come into the spotlight. Be it the language or the social standard of an individual,
the differences have become a major concern when a group of people with different cultural
backgrounds live together under one roof. Combining the differences and minimizing the gap are
missions that many countries have tried to achieve.

Negative assumptions have been made regarding the cultural diversity concept. Consequently, many
people have chosen to fight against the idea of creating a culturally diverse community in their
homeland.

It has become our objective to find causes and consequences of cultural diversity in Malaysia. Our
findings, which are based on our research through observations, interview sessions with people in
mixed-marriages and reports by scholars, have opened the path to our realization of the whole new
life concept.

Generally, our studies on cultural diversity show that the life concept could be a crisis and at the
same time a blessing to Malaysia. The formation of culture diversity from various occurrences such
as foreign colonization and migration has brought about the pros and cons of this life concept. The
differences between the cultures bring issues like ethnocentrism and identity crisis among our people.

Despite all these setbacks, there is the bright side of culture diversity which has resulted in the
uniqueness of Malaysia. The blending of cultures in Malaysia has, therefore, become its best feature.


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