Persepsi Mahasiswa Terhadap Isu-Isu Perpaduan: Kajian ke Atas Pelajar-pelajar Rangkaian Universiti Teknikal Malaysia (MTUN)

Abstract

ABSTRAK

Sejak akhir-akhir ini, negara berhadapan dengan pelbagai isu seperti kelembapan ekonomi, perpaduan kaum yang dikatakan semakin rapuh di samping isu mengenai perkembangan politik dalam negara. Isu-isu ini muncul selepas Pilihan Raya Umum ke 12 (PRU 12) pada tahun 2008 yang lalu. Pelbagai tafsiran diberikan antaranya mengaitkan kesan pilihan raya sebagai punca kerapuhan hubungan antara kaum di Malaysia. Menariknya, keadaan ini juga dikaitkan dengan pola pemikiran generasi muda iaitu kesukaran untuk memahami pemikiran mereka sehingga menghasilkan keputusan pilihan raya 2008 yang luar biasa. Sehubungan itu, satu kajian dilaksanakan dalam kalangan mahasiswa khususnya mahasiswa dalam bidang kejuruteraan untuk melihat tahap kesedaran mereka terhadap isu-isu perpaduan. Seramai 506 orang responden yang terdiri daripada empat buah universiti berasaskan teknikal di Malaysia (MTUN) iaitu Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTEM) dan Universiti Teknoligi Tun Hussin Onn (UTHM). Objektif utama kajian ini ialah (i) mengkaji tahap kesedaran terhadap isu-isu mengenai perpaduan kaum, politik, ekonomi dan konsep 1 Malaysia dalam kalangan mahasiswa bidang kejuruteraan berasaskan universiti yang berbeza, ii) mengkaji tahap kesedaran mahasiswa daripada universiti berbeza terhadap konsep 1 Malaysia, iii) mengkaji persepsi pelajar dari jantina yang berbeza dengan kesedaran terhadap perpaduan kaum di Malaysia.
Kata kunci: Perpaduan, mahasiswa, kesedaran, isu semasa

ABSTRACT

Malaysia lately is confronted with issues such as the economic downturn, racial unity which is alleged increasingly fragile and in addition to the issue of political developments in the country. These issues emerged after the 12th General Election (GE-12) in 2008. Various interpretations on the fragility of race relations in Malaysia were made, which among them relate to the impact of elections. Amazingly, this belief is also associated with the thought patterns of the younger generations, which is difficult to understand their thinking until the 2008 remarkable election results. Consequently, a study was conducted among students especially those engineering students to gauge their awareness level on the issues of unity. A total of 506 respondents consisting of students from four technical-based universities in Malaysia (MTUN) i.e. Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Technical University of Malaysia Melaka (UTEM) and University Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM) were selected. The main objective of this study are: i) to examine the level of awareness of the issues of unity, politics, economics and the concept of 1 Malaysia among the engineering students from the different universities, ii) examine the level of awareness of students from the different universities on 1 Malaysia concept, iii) examine the perceptions of students from different gender on the awareness of racial unity in Malaysia.
Keywords: Solidarity, students, awareness, current issues