Mar 10 2009
Malaysia’s Rukunegara
Having been mentioned in passing here and here, I think it’s time to take a closer look at what Malaysia’s Rukunegara is all about. A composite of the words rukun (principle) and negara (nation), the Rukunegara is essentially a declaration of National Principles, of a common national philosophy.
Here’s the whole declaration:
BAHAWASANYA NEGARA KITA MALAYSIA mendukung cita-cita hendak :
MAKA KAMI, rakyat Malaysia, berikrar akan menumpukan seluruh tenaga dan usaha kami untuk mencapai cita-cita tersebut berdasarkan atas prinsip-prinsip yang berikut :
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The word Rukunegara can refer to the whole declaration, the words after the preamble (beginning Maka kami…) or the five principles alone. In school we recited from Maka kami onwards.
Here’s the whole thing in English:
WHEREAS OUR COUNTRY MALAYSIA nurtures the ambitions of:
NOW THEREFORE WE, the people of Malaysia, pledge to concentrate the whole of our energy and efforts to achieve these ambitions based on the following principles:
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It’s rather sad that it’s only recently that I found out these national principles were formulated and instituted by royal proclamation on August 31 1970, as a result of the May 13 1969 race riots, which violently underscored the need for fostering national unity among the races.
 Rukunegara by adspidey (used with permission 20090317) |
Growing up, the Rukunegara to me was just this collection of five bullet points on the back of every exercise book that I never even gave a second glance. It was only in secondary school, when we started to recite it every Monday morning during the weekly assembly, that I paid it some mind.
Even then though - I think it might have been more impactful if I’d known WHY these principles had been drawn up in the first place! Instead, I ended up having the words embedded in my head, but not in my heart.
(Rukunegara text — both English and Malay — from wikipedia; what *would* I do without wikipedia?!)
I must admit, after Standard Six, I stopped looking at those Rukunegara.
I do agree with you that an appreciation on how the Rukunegara came to be would surely have more impact on the young ‘uns.
An understanding of our Country’s history is the way forward towards unity, upholding democracy, just and a progressive society.
We shouldn’t keep on talking about our “Ketuanan Melayu” without the society especially us younger generations appreciating and understanding how that status came to be.
I feel we should rise above the racial separation that is used to rule in Malaysia… I was brought up Malaysian first… then again, I’m an unusual case, LoL!