KUALA LUMPUR: The time has come for the country's Rukun Negara, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is made part of the education system, the Dewan Negara was told today.
Senator Md Nasir Hashim said there should be better understanding of the five principles of the Rukun Negara and not be made into something that is merely recited by Malaysians.
"It is important that is made an educational syllabus. It should not only about knowing what it is or memorising it but appreciating every principle.
"We have achieved independence for 63 years but we are distancing ourselves more rather than forging unity and be in harmony.
"Any individuals or associations with intentions to split the people should be banned because they are the reason we are always in dispute.
"We need to go back to the core of the Rukun Negara so that we can be united and live in harmony towards a developed Malaysia," said Md Nasir.
He said this while debating the motion of thanks for the royal address by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
Md Nasir also lamented that there was the prevalence of the lack of respect for others in the recent times.
"We are not loyal to the King and Malaysia. There are those who hang our national flag upside down.
"What wrong did the flag commit to warrant such act? We must respect it. Don't hang it upside down. Don't make rude remarks towards our King on social media platforms. We may not like someone but do not resort to doing that," he said.
Meanwhile, during the debate, Senator Adrian Banie Lasimbang also expressed sadness that many have neglected the Rukun Negara.
"We do not delve into the principles. All layers of the society in the country must uphold the principles to increase our spirit of nationalism.
"I ask that the National Unity Ministry hold more programmes to inculcate deeper understanding of the Rukun Negara for better appreciation," he said.
National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique had said the subject on Rukun Negara must be included in the national education system as early as kindergarten and to be followed through until the primary and secondary levels.
She said the matter was being discussed between her ministry, Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry as well as Communications and Multimedia Ministry.
"We don't want the Rukun Negara to be stated only in exercise books without understanding and practice. Thus, we want this subject to be incorporated back in the national education system," she was reported as saying recently.