PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is confident that Malaysians will be the most harmonious and united society in the world if the principle of Rukun Negara concerning courtesy and morality were being dutifully observed in everyday interactions, physically or virtually on social media.
“If we can continue being polite, considerate, and courteous in our everyday interactions, I’m confident that we will be the most harmonious and united society in the world,” he said when launching the 50th anniversary celebration of Rukun Negara at the Perdana Putra Building here yesterday.
The Prime Minister said it was not difficult for Malaysians to observe courtesy and morality as they already made up a society of highly-civilised, well-mannered and courteous people.
In fact, he said it was most unlikely for Malaysians to purposely be rude or behave in an indecent manner to the extent of insulting others.
“It is un-Malaysian to be rude. It is un-Malaysian to be inconsiderate,” he said.
The launch event was streamed live on Bernama TV (Astro 502, myFreeview 121 and unifi TV 631), RTM, Astro Awani and social media platforms.
The Rukun Negara was proclaimed on Aug 31, 1970, by the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Almarhum Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin following the May 13 incident in 1969, with the aim to foster unity among the people of different races, religions, cultures, and beliefs.
Apart from Courtesy and Morality, the other four principles of Rukun Negara are Belief in God, Loyalty to the King and Country, Supremacy of Constitution, and the Rule of Law.
The Prime Minister explained that these five principles have a profound meaning for Malaysians in shaping their identity and uniting every Malaysian citizen regardless of race, religion or skin colour.
While calling for all Malaysians to uphold their commitment to continue to retain and improve their commitment to upholding the five principles of the national philosophy, Muhyiddin said it was not really a difficult task.
“It is important for us to have the awareness to always strengthen unity and maintain the harmony of the people through the practice of the principles and noble values embodied in the Rukun Negara,” he said.
Muhyiddin said the principles of the Rukun Negara must always be put into practice in society and passed on from generation to generation.
“We believe in God; we are loyal to the King and country; we uphold the constitution; we respect the rule of law, and we are always of good behaviour and uphold moral values in our daily life.
“It does not matter whether you are a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Sikh, Kadazan, Dusun, Iban, Murut, Melanau, Orang Asal or any ethnic or sub-ethnic community; if you are a Malaysian, these are the characteristics you must possess,” he said.
In fact, he said, Malaysians were introduced to the five principles of the Rukun Negara when they were still in school, with the principles portrayed on exercise book covers, on signboards and school walls. – Bernama
