Background

Culture embodies the overall mankind's way of life. It plays an important role in national development process of Malaysia, where the Malaysian identity should be upheld in efforts undertaken to improve socio-economic and political development. This essentially requires the mobilization and involvement of all levels of society in an ongoing process.

For a country with multi-racial society like Malaysia, the process of national culture structuring process requires careful and detailed planning in cultivating the Malaysian way of life. This cultural planning should determine the good, noble and main characteristics in strengthening nation building and country's resilience.

Rationale

The formulation of the National Culture Policy is an integral part of any developing country with multi-racial population such as Malaysia. This policy will be used as Guidelines in designing, formulating and sustaining the national identity of Malaysia in the world.

The formulation of this policy needs to be carried out by taking into consideration of regional historical development facts and the country's position as the meeting point as well as the center of trade and civilization since two millennia ago. Malaysia's role as the center of convergence resulted in the interaction, introduction, assimilation and acceptance process of various suitable elements to the regional core culture from the various world cultural elements.

Thus, as an ongoing process, the formulation of Malaysian National Culture will continue to be based on the three principles and elements determined by the Government as the components of National Culture Policy which are: 

• Founded on Indigenous Culture of this Region
  This region encompasses Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia and the South Pacific Isles (Polynesia, Melanesia and Oceania) and Malagasy which was the main part of the Malay culture and civilization areas. This region was the Malay Culture center of dissemination, expansion, and heritage since civilizations/ages ago and further marked by the glory and greatness of the Malay civilization centered in Malacca that uses the Malay Language as the international language of communication (lingua franca). This regional culture is reflected by the similarities of the linguistic fields that are based on the Malay language family  Austronesia, geographical location, historical experiences, nature's wealth, arts and individualistic values. Today's Malay culture forms the way of life, symbol of identity, and the basis of measuring personalities of more than 200 million people that speaks the same family of languages. Therefore, the culture of the regional natives in a nutshell or broad understanding of the Malay culture forms the basis of National Culture Policy.
• Suitable and Reasonable Elements from Other Cultures To be Accepted
  Culture is dynamic, everchanging through the process of ongoing assimilation and adaptation. This principle is precisely the situation of a multi-racial population that inherits multifaceted cultures. With that, the cultural elements of the Chinese, Indian, Arabs, West and others that are suitable and appropriate is given consideration and acceptance in the formulation of National Culture. The suitability of acceptance in this assimilation does not contradict with the Constitution and principles of the Rukun Negara, and national interest as well as the universal moral and spiritual essence in general and especially to Islam being the official religion of the country.
• Islam Becomes An Important Element In the Formulation of National Culture
  Religion or believing in God is an important element in the process of developing a country as well as sculpturing the people's noble virtues and personality. Islam provides guidance to mankind in balancing and synergizing efforts to fulfill emotional and physical needs and because of this, should become an important element in the formation of National Culture considering its position as the official religion of the country, strongly supported by existing historical facts wherein Islamic values were upheld for centuries by majority of the people in the region. The acceptance of the three basic principles above is in line with the concept of National Cultural Congress 1971.
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Objective

The Development of a National Culture for newly independent countries is instrumental in creating a stable and united nation. Therefore, efforts in the formulation of Malaysian National Culture are aimed at achieving three important objectives, which are:

• To strengthen national unity through Culture;
• To foster and preserve national identity as the outgrowth from National Culture; and
• To enrich and improve the quality of human lives in equilibrium with that of the spiritual to be in tandem with socioeconomic growth.

The Objectives of the Strategy and Implementation of this policy can be achieved through the following strategies:

• To restore, conserve and develop the cores of National Culture towards strengthening National Identity through collaborations in cultural research, development, education, expansion and communication;
• To enhance and strengthen cultural leadership through coaching and training to interested individuals, upholding and mobilizing culture as extensive as possible to be the effective engine of growth;
• To establish effective communications towards strengthening the sense of Malaysian nationality, nationhood and nationalism;
• To fulfill sociocultural needs; and
• To improve the standard and quality of arts.

Besides the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism, the involvement of other agencies are also important in the implementation of this policy. These include Federal Government Ministries and Departments, State Governments, statutory bodies and private sectors as well as cultural organizations.

The role of the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism in implementing the policy's objectives and strategies is important. Among others, the Ministry manages the research, development and promotion; education and development of arts; and connectivity towards the advancement of national culture. These efforts are achieved through development of art performance activities by National Art Complex as the organizer and the secretariat of international cultural communication, State Cultural Councils, and provides advisory services to strengthen cultural organizations and cooperation with international bodies.

The role of the Ministry/Department, State Governments and other statutory bodies are equally important in implementing the strategies of this policy in daily management and implementation of current policies. The role of private sectors and cultural organizations are more in need to play a role in carrying out cultural efforts of development at the respective organizational level and subsequently funding the sponsorships of cultural programmes or projects.

Closing

The formulation and implementation of the National Culture Policy is important for Malaysia which is rapidly developing and having a multi-racial population practicing different cultures. This policy serves as the guideline in the forming and creating a united nation while preserving the national identity in the global arena. However, its implementation is complex and cannot be realized in a short period of time. A broad awareness and understanding is indispensable to help in realizing the inspiration of implementing this policy, as only through epiphany will the National Culture transcend racial or tribal cultures. Culture that is fostered will be identified with similar characteristics that crosses the boundaries of clanship and projecting Malaysian national identity as an independent and dignified nation.