The Value of the Spirit of Unity

In education systems around the world, history is taught as a compulsory subject. I believe every reader, whether a former student or still in school, has at some point asked: “Why do we need to study history?” On the surface, history is about events that have already passed, with no direct economic productivity. Even students who excel in history may find it difficult to secure an ideal job based solely on this subject. Many in Asia learn history through rote memorization, without truly understanding its meaning. If a child asks their parents why they should study history, the parents themselves may struggle to explain.

To me, history is far more than just a subject. It is also a branch of anthropology and sociology. Developed nations place great importance on teaching history, as it preserves the roots of civilization, the memory of a people, and the identity of a nation. Although history deals with the past, it helps us reflect, learn from past mistakes, and understand the joys and sorrows of humanity. Many successful families and traditional aristocracies make history and culture part of their family principles, ensuring the younger generation understands their heritage. This alone shows the value of history, as it strengthens knowledge and shapes one’s worldview.

From my own experience, reading history has provided me with tremendous benefits, whether in high-level networking, business, family matters, or recognizing untrustworthy people, all of which I attribute to my understanding of history.

From history, we can learn from the achievements of the great, but also from the failures of others. Often, these lessons reveal why nations collapse or weaken. In my personal analysis, the downfall of a people is rooted in arrogance, narrow-mindedness, and selfishness, because these traits destroy unity. Conversely, successful nations often share values such as pride in their identity, generosity, focus, and a love for learning, thereby fostering a stronger unity and a balanced, moderate spirit.

Unity is essential. It gives pride to a family, community, and nation. True unity means having the courage to admit our weaknesses, appreciating the strengths of others, and accepting their flaws. Avoid selfishness and help one another, for that is the spirit of unity. Unity is not just a slogan but a genuine willingness to help and support one another. With unity, whether in family, career, business, society, ethnicity, or nation, we can stand strong and resilient, like a tumbler that always bounces back upright.

Take the Republic of Sudan in Africa as an example. On the surface, it is a single-ethnic nation and a producer rich in oil resources, yet it remains one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world. Sudan suffers from very poor security, and its people live each day in fear and uncertainty. Overall, the nation’s happiness level is extremely low. Although they appear to be of a single ethnic group, they lack unity.

In 2011, following a nationwide referendum, South Sudan officially separated from the Republic of Sudan to form the Republic of South Sudan. Since then, Sudan and South Sudan have existed as two independent countries. Yet even after South Sudan’s independence, conflicts between the two countries over borders, oil, and security continue, keeping peace out of reach. The United Nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) classify both Sudan and South Sudan as high-risk countries, effectively placing them on a “blacklist.” As a result, UN member states are reluctant to provide them with loan support.

Malaysia is a multiracial and multireligious country, internationally recognized as a moderate and harmonious nation because we know how to embrace diversity and uphold the spirit of unity. Many Malaysians may not realize that numerous single-ethnic countries are amazed by our harmony, often asking how we manage to remain so harmonious, inclusive, and united. This has led many other multicultural countries to admire Malaysia and wish to learn from us.

This is largely credited to Malaysia’s education system. Our history syllabus reflects the understanding that Malaysians must embrace harmony, unity, and tolerance, values that are essential for our survival. However, we must not let our current achievements make us complacent or arrogant, as there is still much to do before we can achieve our vision of becoming a developed nation.

Translated from original article source:

https://www.enanyang.my/news/20250818/Testimonia-Column/964225