Menglembu: The spirit of patriotism continues to be nurtured at the community level as Navira Meditech Sdn Bhd, a company providing engineering maintenance services for hospitals and healthcare institutions, has taken the initiative to distribute Jalur Gemilang to local residents, including kindergarten pupils.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative aims to instil a love for the country from a young age, while encouraging the community to join in enlivening the National Month celebrations held every year on Aug 31. Its director, S. Raja Segaran, said more than 200 Jalur Gemilang and Perak state flags had so far been distributed around the Menglembu area here in conjunction with the National Month celebrations.

He said the initiative was part of the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to encourage members of the community to fly the Jalur Gemilang at their homes and premises. "Besides distributing the flags to local residents, we also gave them to kindergarten pupils because we want them to recognise and appreciate the Jalur Gemilang," he said when met here recently.

Raja Segaran said the company had also decorated its employees' homes and office with the Jalur Gemilang and Perak state flags to enliven the National Month celebrations. He said the initiative also reflected the spirit of unity within the company, which employs people from various ethnic backgrounds, while fostering the spirit of independence among them.

He said the company planned to continue similar programmes in the future, with a focus on senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and schools. Raja Segaran also hoped that the small effort undertaken by the company would inspire more parties to join in fostering patriotism and love for the country.