Ipoh: University students must be the voice for unity in facing various social, identity, and belief challenges in today's increasingly complex digital era, said Deputy Minister of National Unity K. Saraswathy. She emphasized the importance of students being alert to issues that could threaten racial harmony and playing a role in promoting positive narratives grounded in moral values and respect for diversity.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saraswathy highlighted the need for students to be unity-literate, understanding and interpreting issues fairly while delivering messages that foster tolerance, understanding, and brotherhood. She urged students to be the voice of unity on campus, social media, and within their communities during the closing ceremony of the Jalinan Integrasi Nasional Mahasiswa (JALIN) Series 2/2025 programme.

Organised by the Perak National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN), the JALIN programme brought together 80 students from Sarawak, Sabah, and the Federal Territory of Labuan, who are studying at four higher learning institutions in the state. Saraswathy emphasized that strengthening unity requires the commitment of all levels of society, including students, educational institutions, the private sector, and political leaders.

She further noted that the JALIN initiative serves as a key platform to build national identity, instill a spirit of togetherness, and nurture values of unity among students as future leaders. The programme's experiential and cross-cultural approach allows students to better understand other communities and cultivate respect for diversity, considered the nation's greatest strength.

Saraswathy expressed hope that the JALIN experience will inspire students to uphold national values and contribute towards building a peaceful, fair, and united Malaysia. She envisions campuses as fertile grounds for integration built on unity values, shaping young leaders who are inclusive, wise, and forward-looking.