Call for MPs to empower the Rukunegara

ON Jan 23, 2017, a group of concerned Malaysians launched an initiative to empower the Rukunegara. The initiative evolved as it received valuable feedback from various sectors of society. It was felt that after so many decades, the Rukunegara should reclaim its rightful role as the nation’s ideology.

After all, it was presented to the people as the nation’s ideology by the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Aug 31, 1970. The Rukunegara, it will be recalled, was formulated by a consultative council that was truly representative of the different communities and interests of the entire nation. The National Consultative Council was helmed by Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

While the five aspirations and five principles of the Rukunegara have had some positive impact on the nation-building process in the last 48 years, it is a fact that the ideology is not at the core of the nation.

At a time when perspectives on the nation’s character and identity are becoming increasingly divergent, it is essential for the people and the leadership to rededicate themselves to the lucidly articulated aspirations and principles of the Rukunegara.

The Rukunegara could serve as a unifying platform for our multireligious and multicultural nation.

It is significant in this connection that the Conference of Rulers, in a statement on Oct 10 last year, called upon all components of Malaysian society – leaders, administrators and the people as a whole – to regard the Rukunegara as their “guiding compass”.

The newly elected Malaysian Parliament should heed the clarion call of the Rulers. This is why we are addressing this appeal to members of the Dewan Rakyat to adopt a resolution that reaffirms the position of the Rukunegara as the nation’s ideology, which will be a guiding compass for leaders and the people.

A letter dated July 10, 2018 with other relevant documents was sent to all members of Parliament in both the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara. If a Rukunegara resolution can be tabled and accepted at this first meeting of the first session of the 14th Parliament, it would set the right tone and tenor for the nation’s quest for justice, freedom and unity.

Those of us who are associated with this initiative hope to meet Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the near future to discuss this proposal in greater depth.

DR CHANDRA MUZAFFAR On behalf of the Rukunegara Group Petaling Jaya