Rukun Negara Should Be Nurtured From Young

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- Rukun Negara (Malaysian declaration of national philosophy) education should be included in the school curriculum as early as the kindergarten level and should be reviewed every five years in an effort to strengthen the unity of the people. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Principal Research Fellow of Institute of Ethnic Studies Prof Dr Teo Kok Seong said nowadays, students just memorised the principles of Rukun Negara and read it out during assemblies. “The education sector plays an important role in educating our children to understand the philosophy of Rukun Negara, not only at the primary school level but also at a higher level," he said when appearing as a guest on the Ruang Bicara programme on Bernama TV Wednesday. At the university level, he said that students could analyse, evaluate and create something in detailing each principle so that they would understand and appreciate it. Meanwhile, Malaysian Military Academy veteran Lt Gen (R) Zaini Mohd Said said the principles of the national philosophy were still relevant, not only in the past, but also today and into the future. This is because, he said, the five principles are the ideology of the country that would help achieve greater national solidarity. -- BERNAMA