Malay Folk Songs in Preschool Education:a Medium for the Formation of Malay Identity

Learning through music has been proven to greatly aid in the development of moral values among preschool children. This study aims to examine the extent to which Malay identity is instilled through Malay folk songs. The research was conducted in three preschools located in the Bachok district of Kelantan. Ten songs were selected as samples for this study. The focus is on the development of children's attitudes and social cognition, based on the Behaviourism Theory by Skinner (1953) and Social Cognitive Theory by Bandura, A. (1962), and their relationship with the Characteristics of Malay Identity as introduced by Teuku Luckman (1990). The research design employed is qualitative in nature. The methods used include interviews, observations, and data analysis. The informants for the in-depth interviews in this study were three preschool teachers in Bachok, Kelantan. The findings highlight that Malay folk songs not only possess a unique personal aura behind the aesthetics of their melodies and lyrics, but also have the ability to engage children in developing the foundational aspects of Malay identity in their attitudes and actions. This study recommends that research on Malay folk songs needs to be further enhanced, not only to nurture a sense of identity among children, but also to strengthen their psychological resilience in facing the challenges of globalization and new media, which contribute to identity crises among today’s youth