Intercultural Communication Strategies: Elevating Indonesian Identity Reinforcement for Migrant Children in Malaysia

Abstract

This study explores the complex identity negotiations of Indonesian migrant workers’ children in Malaysia, who occupy a liminal cultural space characterized by simultaneous immersion in the host society’s linguistic environment and tenuous connections to their Indonesian national identity, attenuated by geographic and temporal distance. Grounded in Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC), the research investigates the role of culturally embedded language education, particularly through the BIPA program, alongside value-driven non-formal learning anchored in Pancasila philosophy, and targeted psychosocial interventions. These integrated strategies, implemented under the auspices of Sekolah Indonesia Kuala Lumpur (SIKL) in collaboration with SARBUMUSI and PCINU Malaysia, collectively foster resilient and dynamic national subjectivities among the diaspora youth. By transcending reductive binaries of integration versus identity preservation, this study advances a culturally responsive communication framework essential for navigating and reconciling these tensions. Empirical findings underscore that sustaining a robust diaspora identity requires multidimensional engagement—encompassing active community participation, affective connection, and deep cultural literacy—which positions intercultural communication as a critical mechanism for maintaining national identity continuity amid the challenges posed by globalization and migratory flux. Ensuring that these children do not experience alienation from their homeland is vital for nurturing enduring pride as Indonesians, bolstering self-confidence, and inspiring the motivation necessary for maximizing their developmental potential towards achieving improved life trajectories.