Chinese independent and Islamic high schools get together

As the clock struck 9am this morning, small groups of tourists began to congregate at the doorsteps of Masjid Jamek, Sri Mahamariamman Temple and Guan Ti Temple in Kuala Lumpur.

The relative calm was broken, however, by some 100 secondary school students from private Chinese institutions and an Islamic religious school who made their way into the premises.

Clad in multi-coloured T-shirts and clutching small maps, the students divided themselves into several groups, and started going around the mosque and temples with a mission – to learn about the country's cultural and religious diversity.

The students from eight schools in the Klang Valley were participating in the Jelajah KL Lama (Explore old KL) programme, jointly organised by Chinese education rights group Dong Zong and Islamic-based education institution Ikram Musleh. 

"We want to let the students communicate with each other by doing the tasks (in this programme) together," programme coordinator Kong Wee Cheng said when met at the start of the event this morning.

"We want them to experience the multiethnicity of Malaysia."

According to Kong, who manages Dong Zong's multiethnic and multicultural projects, the students were first divided into groups before being given a set of tasks to complete.

Done in a treasure hunt style, the participants were handed a set of questions. To answer these, they were required have to go to eight locations – including tourist attraction spots near the houses of worship, like Central Market, Dataran Merdeka, Petaling Street and Jalan Sultan.

"This initiative was taken by Dong Zong and Ikram Musleh because we know in Malaysia we have an ethnicity issue," Kong said.

"Some said that this was caused by the segregation of schools. But for us, we are looking forward, we want our students to know that Malaysia is a multicultural country.

"(We want students) to have the experience, have friends from different races and cultural backgrounds. So they would have a better understanding."

Kong said Jelajah KL Lama was chosen as the theme as the capital would be the best place to show that the country was not built by any one ethnic group.

"Old Kuala Lumpur was not built by one particular ethnic group. From the old days, it has been multicultural. With the effort and contribution from every race, we built the country together."

Among the tasks students were given was to talk to people at the designated locations, as well as to find out more about prayer times for different religions and the architectural history of the houses of worship.

Fostering better relations

SMI Al Amin student Hanis Kautsar Mohd Kamal, 16, said she believed that it was a good opportunity to better know other cultures.

"I also made many new friends today. This is the first time I am taking part in such an activity.

"I believe such a programme should be continued because it can help foster better relations between people of different races and beliefs," she said.

Her sentiment was echoed by Lai Zi Xuan, 17, from Hin Hua School in Klang.

Lai said it can help improve the rapport between the races as well as correct any misconceptions.

"I think this programme puts different races closer together, especially the Malays and Chinese. It enables us to improve our understanding."

SMI Jeram teacher Iqbal Lukman, meanwhile, hoped that other NGOs would also emulate such efforts.

"This is a very good programme for the unity of our country.

"In today's programme, we will go to different houses of worship in this area. It is a good experience as it unites us as Malaysians."

Similarly, Hin Hua teacher Hwang Yang Hong said that the programme gave non-Muslims like him the opportunity to learn more about Islam and the tenets of the faith.

"Activities like this should be organised more often so that our students would get the opportunity to mix with friends from other backgrounds," he added. - Mkini