Shared values of students’ political freedom: the perspective of Public University students in Peninsular Malaysia

Each university in Malaysia has its shared values to guide its organizational staff and students despite being highlighted as political values. However, only a little research highlights or relates shared political values at the university level, particularly among university students in Malaysia. Therefore, the study was conducted with the purpose of finding a common ground of shared values that relate to political values emphasized by universities and embraced by students. This paper highlights the shared values of student political freedom held by public university students in Peninsular Malaysia. This study analyzed some of the perspectives of the students to provide some of their views towards the values of political freedom by conducting in-depth interviews with 60 participants. The study found three primary themes representing the core values guiding these students' political engagement. Firstly, the importance of knowledge and adab in every aspect of students' political actions and decisions. Secondly, leadership and integrity values take centre stage, as participants stress the need for ethical leadership that prioritizes the nation's interests over personal gain. Thirdly, the value of patriotism and national identity becomes apparent, with students expressing a profound sense of loyalty and pride towards their nation. The study concludes that fostering these political values among university students is vital for a mature and responsible political culture. It suggests disseminating these values through formal, non-formal, and informal education, promoting civic responsibility and active citizenship. Collaborative efforts across all levels of society are deemed essential for achieving a humane and prosperous nation, where political freedom and engagement are guided by knowledge, adab, leadership, integrity, and patriotism. Embracing these values enables Malaysian students to contribute significantly to the nation's progress and democratic development.

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