Bersatu Youth pans Education Ministry's RM8.4m spending on badges

Summary

• Bersatu Youth executive council member Ashraf Hayup Khan chides the Education Ministry after learning RM8.4 million was spent to supply Jalur Gemilang badges to schools.

• He says the money could have been used to fund more meaningful projects.

• Ashraf adds that students learn patriotism from responsible leadership, sincere teachers and quality education.

Bersatu Youth is unimpressed with the government spending over RM8 million to supply Jalur Gemilang badges to schools, describing it as a waste of money.

According to Bersatu Youth executive council member Ashraf Hayup Khan, the measure does not bring added value to students, be it for education or instilling patriotism, adding that the sum could have been used for more beneficial programmes.

“The money should have been used to improve school facilities, strengthen our civic education module or add more counselling teachers to help students.

“Bersatu Youth urges Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to stop this project immediately and use the funds on programmes that will truly benefit our younger generation,” Ashraf said in a statement today.

In a parliamentary written response, Fadhlina said the government spent RM8.4 million to procure Jalur Gemilang badges for distribution to more than 5.14 million students nationwide.

She said the allocation covers students in schools, matriculation colleges, Form Six colleges, and teacher education institutes, with each receiving two badges free of charge.

“The allocation was channelled to all state education departments and relevant educational institutions in February 2025, based on enrolment figures,” Fadhlina stated, in response to a question by Kuala Krai MP Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman.

She added that wearing the Jalur Gemilang badge is part of the Education Ministry’s efforts to instil patriotism and love for the country among students, in line with the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013–2025.

Instilling patriotism

On that note, Ashraf queried how the ministry could afford to spend such money on a cosmetic change when schools are still plagued with issues involving safety, teaching quality and integrity.

He also reminded Fadhlina that one cannot instil patriotism among students using a badge. Rather, it comes from responsible leadership, sincere teachers and quality education.

“Children emulate their parents at home, teachers at school and leaders of a ministry.

“If all these people are not good, spend millions as you want but it will never instil love for the country among children,” Ashraf added.

When the decision to wear the badge was made compulsory on April 21, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim chided detractors for creating a polemic over it.

“What’s so hard? The badge is given for free. Just put it on.

“Many neighbouring countries have been practising this for a long time. We’ve thought about it and discussed it, (and we decided to) just do it so that children are taught from an early age to love the nation. That’s all.

“I don’t think this issue has to be a long-running polemic,” he added.

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COMMENT | Jalur Gemilang: Patriotism can never be mandatory