26-04-2025
#NSTviral: Father's lesson on Jalur Gemilang wins hearts, PM's praise
KUALA LUMPUR: A father's heartfelt message to his sons about wearing the Jalur Gemilang on their school uniforms and upholding its values has gone viral, even earning praise from the prime minister.
In a Facebook post, Ng Chee Kean shared a photo of his two young sons on Monday (April 21), proudly wearing the national flag badge on their school uniforms.
Ng, who referred to his sons as 'Upin' and 'Ipin', said he had set a few clear conditions that come with wearing the Malaysian flag on their uniforms.
The three conditions are 'It must not be dirtied. It cannot touch the ground. Clothes can no longer be carelessly thrown around'.
"When the Jalur Gemilang is on your chest, priority must be given to Bahasa Melayu.
"When leaving the classroom to buy food at the canteen and meeting Chinese aunties and uncles, you must use Bahasa Melayu.
"Greetings and salutations to friends must also be in Bahasa Melayu, even in a Chinese school.
"Your proficiency in Bahasa Melayu must improve."
Ng said that if their command of the national language did not improve or worsened, he would remove the badge.
"Your Bahasa Melayu needs to improve. If it deteriorates or does not improve, I will remove the badge.
"Later, your teacher might ask, 'Horace and Howie, where is your badge?' You can answer, 'Papa is holding it.'
"Then the teacher will ask, 'Why is he holding it?' You can reply, 'Because my Bahasa Malaysia is not good.'
I can also meet with the school principal if necessary," he said.
He said the Jalur Gemilang is more than just a symbol — it comes with a sense of responsibility and national pride.
"So, make sure to follow and uphold these conditions. It's not just about wearing the badge.
"You must understand the meaning and responsibility that come with it, as a student in a national school," he said.
The post has since garnered over 14,000 likes, 4,000 shares, and 1,200 comments, with one notable comment coming from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself.
Anwar wrote, "Thank you for helping to nurture love for the country."
