How deep is your sense of nationalism? Are you willing to travel into the rural areas to impart knowledge and cultivate patriotism among the indigenous children? Are you prepared to sacrifice your leisure time for the future of the country? One Malaysian teacher is willing to do so. In conjunction with Malaysia’s National Month, Etiqa has released a patriotic web film called ‘Pokok Oh Pokok’ to cultivate Nationalism among Malaysians.

‘Pokok Oh Pokok’ tells the story of two indigenous children named Yam and Jemah who decide to skip school due to Yam’s injured leg while practicing a cultural dance in their village. The next day, their teacher takes attendance in the classroom and finds that Yam and Jemah are absent, adding more headcounts of children skipping school, especially among the indigenous community. The teacher then endeavours to facilitate the learning sessions for the indigenous children by holding classes in their village under a big tree.

The web film ‘Pokok Oh Pokok’ was released on Etiqa’s official YouTube channel (@etiqa) on August 21, 2023, last week. The web film is inspired from a true story that revolves around a dedicated teacher who imparts knowledge to students from the indigenous community. This teacher’s story was published on various news channels across the country in 2019.

Michelle Wee, Head of Brand and Communications of Etiqa Insurance and Takaful, commented on the rationale behind the web film in conjunction with the National Day. She said, “Inspired by a true story of a teacher from a primary school at Muadzam Shah, his dedication as an educator and his sense of patriotism should serve as an example to all Malaysians. Moreover, we also want to raise awareness that all children also have the right to be successful in life, which begins with a foundation in education.

The message conveyed in the web film ‘Pokok Oh Pokok’ aligns with Etiqa’s vision, Making the World a Better Place. The release of this web film is also proof that Etiqa cares about the social sustainability of Malaysian.” she added.

The web film ‘Pokok Oh Pokok’ is available on YouTube via this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUuzl0sd_6o. Etiqa has been progressively enhancing its sustainability efforts since 2019. This is evidenced by Etiqa becoming the first insurance and takaful company in Malaysia to join the United Nations Principles for Sustainable Insurance. Other sustainability initiatives include the introduction of Etiqa Solar Energy Shortfall Insurance (SESI), promoting the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) with EV charging station installations at Dataran Maybank and Menara Etiqa, as well as introducing Tesla Ensure, an insurance and takaful protection plan for Tesla owners in Malaysia. For more information about Etiqa’s sustainability journey, please visit Etiqa’s corporate website at www.etiqa.com/sustainability/.