Lee: Create Rukun Negara Foundation to promote patriotism
SIBU: Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye calls for the creation of Rukun Negara Foundation to propagate and promote the five principles of Rukun Negara and help reinforce patriotism among the people.
He suggested that the foundation study the best approaches to help improve understanding of the five principles in the Rukun Negara, especially among the younger generation.
“The foundation also needs to consider how the five basic principles of the Rukun Negara can be applied either through the school curriculum or other suitable ways.
“We need to remember that tolerance and respect among the ethnic groups as outlined in the Federal Constitution and Rukun Negara is the key to peace and harmony in a multiracial and religious country like Malaysia.
“It is the obligation of every Malaysian, regardless of race and religion, to continue practising the five principles of the Rukun Negara and to respect the Federal Constitution as the basis for nationbuilding and unity,” Lee said in a media statement here yesterday.
In this regard, he highlighted that the teaching of the positive values emphasised in the principles of the Rukun Negara and guaranteed by the Federal Constitution must continue from the primary school to university level and all these positive values need to be practised from childhood so that they become synonymous with the Malaysian plural society.
He emphasised that Rukun Negara should not only be printed on the back cover of a textbook or displayed on the wall of government departments.
Stressing that it should not be memorised without understanding and practising it, he said it must be practised not only to help us achieve unity, but also to enhance the identity of the plural society in the country.
Besides that, it should be used as a guide in policy formulation and considered as one of the sources of reference for the drafting of laws, he pointed out.
“All parties should be exposed to the Rukun Negara as well as the country’s history so that they understand and respect the rights, beliefs and practices of Malaysians from various religious and ethnic backgrounds.
“With better awareness and understanding of the principles of the Rukun Negara, our children will always accept the fact that Malaysia is a unique country in which its people of diverse races and religions can live safely and respect each other,” he stressed.
Adding on, he said an in- depth understanding and practice of Rukun Negara is very essential for the young generation who are the future leaders of our country.
“The 14th General Election is just around the corner and the most urgent task of all Malaysians irrespective of race, religion and political affiliation is to ensure unity, racial and religious harmony,” said Lee.
He called on the people to also reject all forms of extremism which can undermine interracial and inter-religious peace and harmony.
“I believe that the adoption of the Rukun Negara principles and in- depth understanding of the Federal Constitution is the cornerstone for the formation of a united Malaysian nation with mutual respect for each other,” Lee added.
The foundation also needs to consider how the five basic principles of the Rukun Negara can be applied either through the school curriculum or other suitable ways. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, social activist