Heart of the nation: A cleaner wiping a wall featuring the Rukun Negara at Merdeka MRT Station in Kuala Lumpur. — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: At the 14th National Day celebration 53 years ago, a 21-year-old student from Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM, now UiTM) was entrusted to lead the first recitation of the Rukun Negara pledge.
This historic event took place on Aug 31, 1971, a year after the Rukun Negara was introduced to strengthen the unity of Malaysians following the tragedy of May 13, 1969.
