Merdeka's next generation: Do young Malaysians understand the constitution?

SHAH ALAM – Understanding the Federal Constitution remains important for Malaysia’s youth as the country navigates an evolving digital landscape and increasingly complex social dynamics.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said the constitution was as relevant to young Malaysians as it was to everyone else, regardless of age, background, political belief or religion.

“It is deeply relevant and it matters to young Malaysians just as much as it matters to every other Malaysian,” he said.

However, Adam said most Malaysians did not understand the constitution as well as hoped, often knowing selected provisions without fully grasping how the document functions as a whole.

“That understanding should never be limited to lawmakers, lawyers, and judges alone,” he told Sinar Daily.

He said the nation’s new education plan would embed history and constitutional knowledge in the curriculum to build understanding from an early age.

Adam said misconceptions included viewing the constitution as a frozen document, despite its history of amendments, or seeing it as belonging to only one race, religion or political group.

He said national unity depended on principles including constitutional supremacy, the rule of law and equality before the law, as well as an understanding of the balance between provisions such as Articles 8 and 153 and Articles 11 and 3.

Looking ahead, he identified fulfilling commitments under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 for Sabah and Sarawak, protecting digital freedom and privacy, and maintaining institutional independence amid political polarisation as key challenges.

He said the National Day (Merdeka) represented a continuing commitment to ensuring Malaysia was governed by the rule of law rather than arbitrary power.

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Melaka Branch Student Representative Council president Mohammad Alif Danial Mohamad Asri said the challenge was not the constitution’s relevance but how that relevance was communicated to young people.

He said it should not be treated merely as an abstract legal text or history lesson, but as a living framework shaping daily life and shared responsibilities.

He said constitutional issues were often oversimplified or polarised on social media, creating misconceptions that the constitution belonged only to legal professionals or that rights existed without corresponding duties.

He said the constitution provided common ground for Malaysia’s diverse population, with unity built on mutual respect and the rule of law rather than forced uniformity.

Danial also warned that digital misinformation could erode confidence in constitutional institutions and deepen social polarisation.

As Malaysia marks the National Day, he urged young Malaysians to recognise their shared responsibility to uphold the constitutional framework and protect national harmony.