Move will bring communal harmony, say advocates
PETALING JAYA: Employers and education advocates have backed calls for the Rukun Negara to be practised more widely across society, saying it could help strengthen workplace harmony and promote racial understanding.
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the Rukun Negara remained highly relevant in the workplace, with Malaysia’s workforce becoming more diverse and multi-generational.
“The principles embodied in the Rukun Negara are consistent with the values organisations seek to cultivate, including respect for diversity, ethical conduct, accountability, rule compliance and commitment to collective success,” he said when contacted.
Syed Hussain said differences in communication styles, work expectations and perspectives across generations could lead to misunderstandings or workplace tension, making shared values increasingly important.
Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (Page) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the Rukun Negara should not be treated as a mere recitation exercise in schools.
“Its principles can be integrated into classroom discussions, projects, civic education, community service and how schools manage diversity and conflict,” she said, adding that students internalise values better through experience than memorisation.
She said values-based learning must also be relevant, with students discussing real-life issues and ethical dilemmas through the lens of the Rukun Negara.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) president Aminuddin Awang said equal emphasis should be placed on strengthening understanding of the Rukun Negara alongside the current focus areas of artificial intelligence (AI) training for teachers.
Malaysian Association for Education (MAE) secretary Hamidi Mookkaiyah Abdullah said schools should move beyond recitation and focus on consistent practice and role modelling to nurture responsible and patriotic citizens.
“Through consistent practice, meaningful learning experiences and positive role modelling, teachers and schools can help nurture responsible, united and patriotic citizens who embody its principles in their daily lives,” he said.
Lecturer and PhD student Afiqah Aisyah Saiful Bahar, 34, said daily recitation alone did not amount to practising the Rukun Negara if it becomes a mindless routine.
She said while the first four principles required deeper understanding and acceptance before being fully embraced, Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan (Courtesy and Morality) was the easiest principle to put into practice because it underpinned harmonious communal living.
“Being mindful of the words we use in our daily interactions is a great step towards becoming better Malaysians.”
Afiqah Aisyah raised concerns over the influence of social media, saying disrespectful behaviour has become increasingly normalised.
“If one gets away with blatantly disregarding our Rukun Negara on social media, another will think it is fine to do the same,” she said.
For 19-year-old undergraduate student Oon Jun-Yang, practising the Rukun Negara starts with simple acts of responsibility and compassion.
He said Malaysians can live out its values by obeying the law, being courteous, helping one another and contributing positively to society.
He suggested that schools organise programmes centred on the Rukun Negara, such as random acts of kindness initiatives, to encourage students to practise its values.
A 34-year-old who only wanted to be known as Syafiz said the first principle, Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan (Belief in God), served as the foundation for the remaining tenets.
He said every religion teaches kindness, compassion and respect for others, and those who lived according to these teachings will naturally uphold the rest of the Rukun Negara.
