17 September 2008

Rukun Negara - have you read it? really?

This is the Rukun Negara which was drummed into our little skulls when we were young:
  • BELIEF IN GOD
  • LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
  • UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION
  • RULE OF LAW
  • GOOD BEHAVIOUR AND MORALITY
Of course, when I first knew about it, it was in Malay, and I never really found out what the long and grand words like 'kesusilaan', 'keluruhan' and 'kedaulatan' (with regards to undangs) really meant. Even if I did, would you expect an 7 year old to differentiate between the Constitution and the Rule of Law?

However it was only recently that I found out that there was more to this story than these bullet points. The 'Rukun Negara' that we have learnt aren't actually the real principles (rukuns). They are merely tactical means to fulfill a grander plan; and the real National Principles are as follows:
Our nation, Malaysia, being dedicated :
  • to achieving a greater unity of all her peoples;
  • to maintaining a democratic way of life;
  • to creating a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably shared;
  • to ensuring a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions;
  • to building a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science and technology;
I really like, and can related to these original Rukuns; Unity, Democracy, a Just society, Equitable Shared Wealth, Liberal, Celebrating the diverse Cultures and Traditions, Progressive Society, and orientation towards Science and Tech! Who cannot like that?

This was written in 1970, just after the May13th disaster. It was intended to correct the path of our Nations growth. And yet, after almost 40 years on, we can see how the real Rukun Negara has been "forgotten", and this is clear with the "progress" of our country and society.

We see families split because of religulous body snatchers, money politics, judicial crisis, abuse of the NEP to cronies, fanaticism, restriction of traditions, regressive societies and a poorly implemented science roadmap.

I think its time we really understand the original principles of Rukun Negara, rather than the abstract version which we have all grown to ignore.

Please re-read your Rukun Negara, and help make Malaysia a better place.


yk
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The Malay version:

BAHAWASANYA NEGARA KITA MALAYSIA mendukung cita-cita hendak :

  • mencapai perpaduan yang lebih erat di kalangan seluruh masyarakatnya ;
  • memelihara satu cara hidup demokratik ;
  • mencipta satu masyarakat adil di mana kemakmuran Negara akan dapat dinikmati bersama secara adil dan saksama ;
  • menjamin satu cara liberal terhadap tradisi-tradisi kebudayaannya yang kaya dan berbagai corak ; dan
  • membina satu masyarakat progresif yang akan menggunakan sains dan teknologi moden.

MAKA KAMI, rakyat Malaysia, berikrar akan menumpukan seluruh tenaga dan usaha kami untuk mencapai cita-cita tersebut berdasarkan atas prinsip-prinsip yang berikut :

  • KEPERCAYAAN KEPADA TUHAN
  • KESETIAAN KEPADA RAJA DAN NEGARA
  • KELUHURAN PERLEMBAGAAN
  • KEDAULATAN UNDANG-UNDANG
  • KESOPANAN DAN KESUSILAAN