TYT: Understanding history key to shaping nation’s identity

KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has emphasised the importance of history literacy in national identity.

“History reflects our journey as individuals and as a nation, as history helps people understand themselves,” he said.

“By knowing what humans have done in the past, we can identify our abilities and potential and know what we are capable of doing by trying, based on our understanding of history,” he said.

He made these observations in his address on ‘Historical Literacy Enlightens the Nation’ during the Statesman Lecture and Book Talk event held at the Balai Budaya Tun Syed Nasir, Wisma Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) here Tuesday (Aug 20).

Wan Junaidi also stated that there are gaps in terms of time and space in the historiography of Sarawak, such as historical time, and he hoped that the continuity of authentic manuscript sources based on the local perspective will be studied in reconstructing the historical narrative.

“We should not blindly accept orientalist writings without critical thinking as they often have a biased view, making it seem like certain outsiders were the ones who ‘civilised’ the local people, while those who showed resistance are frowned upon,” he said.

He emphasised that understanding history is the key to shaping a nation’s identity, and the role of a historian is to master and understand history.

He added that misunderstanding and ignorance of the nation’s history can threaten the unity among the ethnic groups, and by not knowing history, the country might adopt Western viewpoints on secularism.

“It is crucial to pay serious attention to teaching and to learn historical literacy, especially in the primary to the higher education curriculum, which will ensure that we can read, understand, and appreciate the true history of our nation and its people.

“A broad knowledge and clear understanding of our national and historical context can also help prevent disagreements within our society, including among historians and scholars,” he added.

In addition, Wan Junaidi also expressed that people are still not aware of the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and some people have manipulated and sensationalised the issue, implying that the people of Sarawak and Sabah are extreme in fighting for their rights.

He added that any efforts that lack reason and disrespectful behaviour in fighting for privileges and demanding rights must be balanced rationally and that the people must be aware of the facts.

“Therefore, with a high level of historical literacy in our society, we can resolve any disagreements over historical facts and clarify them effectively,” he said.

Wan Junaidi also stated that despite contemporary scholars often discussing Western colonisation as having negative impacts on indigenous intellectuals within the ‘colonised minds’ concepts, there are some positive aspects that can be derived from the assimilation of Western culture into modern thinking and way of life, which is referred to as ‘open minds’.

“The implementation of our nation’s history should be grounded in the principles of the Rukun Negara, and this involves reading, understanding, appreciating, and sincerely applying to its five core values.”