The Impact of a Multicultural Environment on the National Identity Among Students at the Indonesian School of Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

People who live distant from their native land maintain their feeling of belonging to their home country. This research investigates Indonesian students at SIKL as they develop their national identity through experiences in a multicultural educational environment. These children encounter both advantages and difficulties from their worldwide exposure because they live among different languages and cultures. This study is a qualitative descriptive research using observation, interviews, and documentation as the main data collection techniques. The findings indicate that students develop stronger Indonesian identity through school practices such as the use of batik clothing, Bahasa Indonesian language, national holiday celebrations, and traditional songs. The results also show that teachers, parents, and community members together establish meaningful links between students and their homeland. These educational strategies help students maintain their national identity while developing pride in their cultural heritage. The study concludes that education integrated with daily traditions plays a significant role in strengthening identity development among Indonesian children abroad, ensuring that their sense of belonging to the homeland remains strong despite their multicultural surroundings.