THE ROLE OF HUMANITY CULTURAL VALUES TOWARDS STRENGTHENING SOCIAL COHESION AMONG THE COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION

Abstract

Social Cohesion is an important measurement for the achievement of unity among society in Malaysia, especially unity between ethnic groups. The National Cohesion Index (IPNas) 2018 shows that Social Cohesion has increased to a good level due to the influence of National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations. This study aims to explore the direct influence of the Humanity Cultural Value variable on the National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations towards strengthening Social Cohesion among Malay and Non-Malay students in public and private higher education institutions. The Humanity Cultural Value variable was developed from Al-Quran sources and operationalized into a universal value that is suitable as a value measurement for all ethnicities. A total of 445 respondents consisting of ethnic Malay, Chinese and Indian students were involved in this study. A snowball sampling technique was used to obtain voluntary student commitment through the student's social media community network. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to describe the demographics of the respondents while PLS-SEM analysis was employed to test the study's hypothesised model. The results of the overall analysis found that the appreciation of the Humanity Cultural Value significantly directly affects the National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations as well as strengthening Social Cohesion. The Humanity Cultural Value is found to tend to increase the value of the National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations for the Malay Ethnicity while the Humanity Cultural Value is more likely to increase the National Ethos for the Non-Malay Ethnicity. In conclusion, the Humanity Cultural Value is an important initiating factor to be moulded into the student’s community so that efforts to strengthen unity in the multi-ethnic society in the country will be empowered in a more focused manner.