KUCHING: Students have now begun begun to recite the Rukun Negara in full, including its preamble, to bring about a better understanding of the nation’s guiding principles.
National Unity Minister Datuk Seri Aaron Ago Dagang said the Rukun Negara was first introduced in the 1960s and recited in schools.
Though over time, only the five principles were read, omitting the preamble.
“As Minister, I felt this needed to be revived, so we have reintroduced the full recitation in schools to instill a deeper understanding of its values,” he explained.
Aaron said this at the closing of the National Level Anak Malaysia Unity Camp 2024, aimed at instilling the values of the Rukun Negara in the younger generation, with a focus on fostering unity and celebrating diversity.
He praised the success of the camp, stating that the initiative seeks to enhance patriotism and unity among students.
“We emphasise the principles of Rukun Negara at all levels of schooling.
“It is not just a set of principles but a philosophy of unity,” he said during the closing of the camp held at the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) here Saturday night (Sept 28).
He also mentioned the ministry’s efforts to revive the spirit of Rukun Negara in various institutions, including Parliament and state legislative assemblies.
“Since last year, we have begun reciting the Rukun Negara in both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, and this practice will continue next year. We are also working to implement this at the state assembly level across the country,” he added.
In addition to the camp, the Ministry has been actively promoting Rukun Negara at all levels of education, from kindergarten to university, since last year.
According to Aaron, in Sarawak alone, 408 Rukun Negara Clubs have been established to strengthen the education and appreciation of the values the Rukun Negara promotes.
Nationwide, 6,849 clubs have been set up, covering various types of schools, including Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK), Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJK(C)), Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJK(T)), Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK), and private institutions.
The Rukun Negara Clubs aim to enhance students’ patriotism while fostering unity and mutual respect among different ethnic groups.
The camp, which took place in Kuching from Sept 26 to 28, saw participation from 124 students from across the nation.
Also present at the event were the director-general of the Department of National Unity and National Integration, Datuk Che Roslan Che Daud, Centexs CEO Datuk Syeed Mohd Hussein Wan Abd Rahman, and Deputy Director of the Sports, Co-curriculum, and Arts Division of the Ministry of Education, Zuraini Abu Hassan.
