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Curriculum reforms at the secondary-school level in Malaysia began in 1988 and was fully implemented in 1989. Heagly and Evans define curriculum as structured experience provided by the school for the student, so the student can meet all set learning outcomes to the best of their abilities. Prior to the introduction of the Secondary School Integrated Curriculum (KBSM), many issues were identified in the secondary school curriculum that served as the benchmark for curriculum reforms in Malaysia. Based on analysis, the introduction of KBSM was closely related to the turbulent historical issues during the first three decades after independence. These issues include problems with unity, inability to produce skilled labour, and the fragile and still negligible usage of the national language. Therefore, this article analyses the historical issues closely related to the introduction of KBSM, and the individuals responsible for ensuring KBSM comes into reality. The historical method is used as the thrust of this paper. Data collection-wise, this paper uses the qualitative analysis method of archival and library research. This approach aims to gather information and analysis a variety of primary and secondary sources such as the Report of the Education Committee 1956, Report of the Education Review Committee 1960, and the Cabinet Committee Report on Review of Implementation of Education Policies 1979, along with the Curriculum Committee Meeting Minutes in 1972, 1986 and 1987. The findings confirm the three historical issues strongly influenced the thought processes that went into planning and drafting KBSM. Implication-wise, the curriculum underwent reforms, towards a shift in the field of education following these historical issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nation-state is a sovereign state with the people have an awareness that they have something in common. There is something in common that can be seen among those who live together in the same nationstate territory based on language, customs and old traditions that are shared. In short, a nation-state is a state entity that is free from any world concept of empire. In Malaysia, the basis of nation-state building has existed since the reign of the Malay king, while the British administrative system during the colonial period had introduced Malaya to the concept of a modern nation-state. Thus, this study aims to highlight the history of the nation-state formation in Malaysia and the challenges in order to achieve the goal. This is a qualitative academic history article and the writing used the document analysis method. In addition to that, the Social Science analysis methods are also used to give a more extensive and broad writing analysis. The results of the study found that the nation-state building in the country is an ongoing process. The process has been formed through the traditional nation-state concept that existed before the British colonial era, thus the process keep developed during the colonial period and continued after the independence based on the development of as a sovereign nation-state. Until the post-independence era, the policies that the government tried to highlight continued to empower the nation-state concept to form a nation-of-intent in the country that became the objective of all independent countries. This paper is expected to give such a broad overview of the history and challenges faced by the country in its efforts to form a nation-of-intent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheikh Sulaiman al-Rasuli was a well-known ulama (scholar) in education as well as an important political figure. This paper discusses the political activities of Sheikh Sulaiman al-Rasuli using a content analysis approach with historical methods. In addition, this paper also uses the creative minority theory developed by Toynbee that oppression always gives birth to a small group of creative minority. The findings in this study are that, Sheikh Sulaiman al-Rasuli as a politician, dealt with colonialism by taking a cooperative way which politically benefitted the Minangkabau community. During the Dutch colonial period, Sheikh Sulaiman al-Rasuli successfully established VIOS (Vereeniging Ittihadul Oelama Sumatra), the Tarbiah Islamiyah Association (PERTI), and stopped the Marriage Bill which was drafted by the Dutch colonialists from becoming law. During the Japanese occupation, Sheikh Sulaiman al-Rasuli formed the Minangkabau Islamic High Council (MITM), served as General Chair of the Assembly and successfully inspired youth to join the People’s Army. After independence, Sheikh Sulaiman al-Rasuli became chairman of the Constituent Assembly session in 1955 and was the highest advisor to the Tarbiyah Islamiyah Unity Party. He was also one of the founding figures of Lasykar Muslimin Indonesia (Lasymi), advisor to the Military Governor of Central Sumatra and Chairman of the MUSI Commission (All Indonesian Ulema Council) in Palembang in opposing communism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kampung Mambong in Kuala Krai, Kelantan was the only place in Peninsular Malaysia that had been involved in the making of traditional earthenware cooking stove. However, its history and manufacturing perspectives have never been studied in detail in prior studies. The present study was conducted to unravel the history, manufacturing tradition and challenges faced by the potters at Kampung Mambong in preserving the production of earthenware cooking stove. This study was carried out using the qualitative method involving ethnography fieldwork and a library survey. The findings of the study showed that the production of traditional earthenware cooking stove or locally known as Tuku was inherited by Che Bunga and her ancestors at Kampung Mambong since the 1850s. Like other potteries at Kampung Mambong, Tuku is made using traditional methods without incorporating modern techniques. In the 1930s, however, the manufacturing of Tuku began to dwindle, and its entire production halted by the end of the 1940s. The lack of experts and interest among the younger generations to learn and continue the making of Tuku are two main reasons why the production diminished in the 1930s and 1940s. Apart from that, the invasion of the Japanese military in Sungai Galas in the early 1940s had indirectly caused the production to cease. Overall, this study has successfully contributed new insights into the history, manufacturing tradition and factors that caused extinction to the production of Tuku at Kampung Mambong in the late 1940s. Therefore, essential proactive steps need to be taken to revive the manufacturing of Tuku because it is one of the unique heritage crafts of the Malay potters in Sungai Galas, Kelantan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]