Three-month Rukun Negara Golden Jubilee celebration begins

Against the backdrop of challenging global economic situation, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, unity played very important roles in addressing those challenges as Malaysia is not spared from the impact.

It is evident that Malaysians from all walks of life have shown great unity in breaking the transmission chain of the COVID-19 and flattening the curve of virus transmission when no local transmission was recorded yesterday.

Being organised in the new normal, the Rukun Negara Golden Jubilee celebration will be as special and important as it can be to enliven the spirit of love and respect for the national philosophy as the pillars of national unity and social harmony in the country.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to officiate the launch of the Rukun Negara’s 50th anniversary celebration to be held at the Putra Perdana Building in Putrajaya today in conjunction with the National Day and Malaysia Day celebration this year.

The Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) currently in force, which allows a maximum of 250 people to attend a gathering, is not a factor for the public to witness the launch event as it will be streamed live on Bernama TV (Astro 502, myFreeview 121 dan Unifi TV 631), RTM, and Astro Awani, as well as their social media platforms.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver his special message at 3 pm, which is seen as important in facing today's challenges and to ensure that peace and harmony of the multiracial society in the country will continue to be preserved in accordance with the principles of the Rukun Negara.

The Rukun Negara was proclaimed on Aug 31, 1970, by the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Almarhum Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin following the May 13 incident in 1969, with the aim to foster unity among the people of different races, religions, cultures, and beliefs.

After delivering his special message, the Prime Minister is expected to recite the Rukun Negara pledge, together with Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, and six schoolchildren representing members of the Rukun Negara clubs.

Soon afterward, Muhyiddin will launch the official logo of the Rukun Negara Golden Jubilee celebration, which was created through the cooperation between the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Information Department, and Karangkraf Media Group.

More interestingly, the Prime Minister will also launch special commemorative stamps themed ‘Lima Puluh Tahun’ (Fifty Years) in five designs, each featuring one of the five principles of Rukun Negara, as well as the Rukun Negara logo and the national flower, the Bunga Raya (Hibiscus).

The stamps will be made available by Pos Malaysia next month.

The Prime Minister will then visit the Rukun Negara exhibition gallery featuring materials and historical pictures relating to the drafting the national philosophy.

To enliven the event, the Rukun Negara song composed by Datuk Mokzani Ismail will be sung by Sarawak-born singer Dayang Nurfaizah and Roy, who has always been known for singing patriotic songs.

Datuk Syafinaz Selamat and two new singers Afieq and Wani, on the other hand, will be singing “Lima Prinsip Rukun Negara” song composed by Datuk Wah Idris.

Numerous other activities and programmes have also been lined up for the Golden Jubilee celebration co-organised by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia and the Ministry of National Unity starting today until Sept 16.

Among the activities are Insta Challenge, Rukun Negara Hour, Webinar, e-Treasure Hunt, Nationhood Ted Talk, Series of Talks, Documentary, and Bicycleton.