NATIONAL SOCIAL POLICY

1. NATIONAL SOCIAL POLICY

2. INTRODUCTION • The effort to develop youth power started with the establishment of Youth Service Division and Department of Social Welfare in 1953. • The aim is to train national youth movement by giving social and exercise services to this group. • A ministry that is Ministry of Youth and Sport has been formed to plan and implement youth policy. • Ministry’s policy is to relate with youth in order to develop youth power in doing useful and beneficial activities.

3. POLICY’S PRINCIPLE • To practice Rukun Negara’s principles; • To produce unity and voluntary spirit; • To generate matured leadership attributes; • To encourage participation in national planning process; • To form high moral value and health conscious attitude. • To achieve high level of knowledge.

4. This policy is aimed at developing youth social and economic level, besides strengthening national unity and security. • “Rakan Muda” programmes was one of the effort under this policy to instill independent attitude, discipline and team spirit among the youths. • This kind of programme used comprehensive approach to maximize youths involvement in various fields like sports, culture and arts.

5. NATIONAL CULTURAL POLICY • A policy for the creation of a national culture was introduced as an attempt to foster national integration. • The guidelines of the policy were drawn up at a congress on culture held in Kuala Lumpur in August 1971. • The congress concluded that the National Cultural Policy should contain three basic principles: • It must be based on the culture of the indigenous people of this country; • Elements from other cultures which are suitable and acceptable may be incorporated into it; • Islam will be an important element in the national culture.

6. Following this congress, an Advisory Council was formed to advise the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports on matters pertaining to culture. • The Advisory Council pointed out that a national culture embodies more than just artistic, it also encompasses its language, its norms and its values. • As for language, the Malay language was regarded by the 1971 Congress as capable of disseminating information. • As for norms and values, these elements should be based on those of the indigenous people as they are rather flexible. • Historical experience shows that these people easily acculturate elements of other cultures.

7. The norms and values of various ethnic groups incorporated into the national culture will be those that are universal and positive and can contribute towards unity of the people and loyalty to the country. • The national cultural concept includes the use of the National Language as the official language and medium of communication among the various ethnic groups in the country. • The language should be used extensively in daily social intercourse, not just in official transactions.

8. VISION 2020 • This idea was expressed by former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir in 1991 on a framework to make Malaysia a developed nation by the year 2020. • The development that is to be achieved will not be a carbon copy of any developed nation but will follow own mould. • The PM’s thoughts came to be known as Vision 2020. • The government has allocated a time frame of 30 years from the time of its inception to realise the target. • According to the vision, independent Malaysia will become a truly advanced, united, prosperous and progressive nation by 2020. • The people will live in harmoniously in a society that is tolerant, democratic, just, dynamic and resilient and one that is capable of competing with others in the world.

9. Nine challenges of Vision 2020: • Create a Malaysian nation that is united. • Create a society that is free, strong and self-confident. • Build a mature democratic society. • Form a society that is morally strong, ethical and religiously sound; • Create a society that is mature and tolerant. • Form a scientific-oriented and progressive society. • Create a society that is caring and kind. • Ensure that the society is fair economically. • Create a society that is prosperous.

10. NATIONAL INTEGRITY PLAN (NIP) • Malaysia has been a successful developing country and is forging ahead to become a developed nation in its own mould. • A major challenge it has to address is the strengthening of ethics and integrity. • NIP aims to fulfill the aspirations and objectives of both the Rukun Negara and Vision 2020. • Launched on 23 April 2004 by ex PM, Tun Abdullah Hj. Ahmad Badawi. • Spread of corruption, incompetence, abuse of power, fraudulent,etc are manifestations of the decline in integrity. • Overall objective of the NIP is to fulfill the 4th challenge of Vision 2020: - to establish a fully moral and ethical society

11. The specific objectives of the NIP are: • Giving direction and guidance to various sectors, so that they will work together to build a united, harmonious, moral and ethical society. • Raising the level of awareness, commitment and cooperation among all sectors in their efforts at enhancing integrity. • Encouraging a sense of responsibility among members of the community and promoting the development of civil society that respects and upholds the principles of integrity. • Strengthening the moral foundations of the community and the country, and improving the wellbeing of the people. • Raising Malaysia’s competitiveness and resilience in meeting the challenges of the 21st century.

12. For the first 5 years (2004-2005), the NIP has identified 5 priorities known as Target 2008: • Effectively reduce corruption, malpractices and abuse of power. • Increase efficiency of the public delivery system and overcome bureaucratic red tape. • Enhance corporate governance and business ethics. • Strengthen the family institution • Improve the quality of life and people’s wellbeing. • Together with the formulation of the National Integrity Plan is the establishment of the Integrity Institute of Malaysia (IIM). The Institute serves as the coordinating mechanism for the implementation of the NIP.