KUALA BERANG: Thirty-three students from SK Sungai Berua here added vibrancy to the National Month celebrations today by crafting a vibrant Jalur Gemilang using their handprints.
Head of Programme (Community Development) at the Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Dr Norhayati Ab Manaf, who is also the programme director, said that the activity also involved 40 students from SK Tengku Mahmud in Besut.
"The programme, held in collaboration with these two schools, is aimed at enlivening National Day celebrations and instil a sense of patriotism among students.
"It also provides Orang Asli students from SK Sungai Berua and SK Tengku Mahmud with an opportunity to interact with each other," she told reporters at a programme with the Kampung Sungai Berua Orang Asli community at SK Sungai Berua today.
Norhayati said that the Jalur Gemilang, completed in just under an hour on a white cloth measuring four metres by two metres, will be flown at the Jungle School established by UMT in the Orang Asli village in 2021.
Meanwhile, UMT deputy vice chancellor (Research and Innovation) Prof Dr Marinah Mohd Ariffin stated that today's programme was also held to ensure that the Orang Asli community is not left out of the shared spirit of patriotism and love for the country.
"As we talk about Malaysia Madani and Jiwa Merdeka (independent soul), we need to work together to ensure that the young Orang Asli generation can also embrace and experience this independent spirit," she said.
Marinah said, in addition to creating the Jalur Gemilang using the handprint technique, UMT also carried out a programme to instal flags at all 103 houses in Kampung Sungai Berua.
She said UMT, particularly through the Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, has built strong connections with the Orang Asli community in Kampung Sungai Berua since 2021 through various programmes. — BERNAMA