Ethnic Acceptance Issues amongst Sabah and Sarawak Ethnic Groups at Sultan Idris Education University
Khairul Azam Bahari1, Samsudin Suhaili2, Norliza Jamaluddin3, Kalsum Umar4, Zulkarnin Zakaria5
1Khairul Azam Bahari, Fakulti Bahasa and Komunikasi, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia.
2Samsudin Suhaili, Fakulti Sains Kemanusiaan, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia.
3Norliza Jamaluddin, Fakulti Bahasa and Komunikasi, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia.
4Kalsum Umar, Fakulti Sains Kemanusiaan, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia.
5Zulkarnin Zakaria, Kolej GENIUS Insan, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.
Manuscript received on 28 June 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 16 July 2019 | Manuscript Published on 26 July 2019 | PP: 411-418 | Volume-8 Issue-2S2 July 2019 | Retrieval Number: B10660782S219/2019©BEIESP | DOI: 10.35940/ijrte.B1066.0782S219
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Students enrolment toUPSIbring alongdifferences in various background aspects which includeethnic-related issues andpublic acceptancetowards such differences. These differences could create a few unintended problems such as discrimination, isolation, stereotypingandethnic conflictthat could threatthe nationalunityas it could alsodirectly affect students’ academicperformance.Currentresearchon multicultural problems in public universityhad not explored the issue seriouslyandmanymainlyfocused onmajorethnic groups in the country – Malay, Chineseand Indian. Meanwhile the study on other ethnic groups from Sabah and Sarawak in public universities has not received enough attention. Thus, this study was conducted to examine issues in relation to the acceptance ofotherethnicgroups from Sabah and Sarawak among the undergraduates of UPSI. This studyapplied the mixedmethodologyofqualitativeandquantitative approach. Data was collected using survey, interview, Delphi survey and simulation. Findings showed that there are many loopholes that need to be fixed by the management of UPSI in helping the students community understand the diversity of the rethnic groups originating from Sabah and Sarawak. The university must take the initiative to develop a mechanism that would help expose the campus community to embrace inter-cultural communication in a positive way. The study also found the need to reduce prejudice, stereotyping and discriminative attitude towards the ethnic groups from Sabah and Sarawak.
Keywords: Multiculturalism, Ethnic Groups, Sabah, Sarawak, and Public University.
Scope of the Article: Smart Learning and Innovative Education Systems