Mandarin Language Strengthens Tolerance and Patriotism in a Multiracial Society

Kuantan, 21 September 2018- Ms. Yong Ying Mei, the Director of Mandarin Language and Culture Centre (MLCC) of Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) was invited as one of the panels for the Cendekia Bicara forum during the closing ceremony for Festival ‘Aku Darah Anak Malaysia A.D.A.M’ at Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). In the forum, she emphasized that the language is a part of Malaysian identity who are able to speak several languages. She also mentioned that Mandarin language strengthens tolerance and patriotism in a multiracial society. The scenario in in Malaysia for example, non-Chinese students who learn Mandarin as a foreign language and participated in Mandarin activities together with Chinese students are better at understanding each other. Other invited panels were Madam Noorjahan Sultan (Education Technology Officer of Pahang) and Mr. Stefano Romano (Italian photographer) with Dr. Youventharan A/L Duraisamy (Lecturer of Civil Engineering and Earth Resources, UMP) as the moderator of the forum.

By Yong Ying Mei