about the Rukunegara

Recently, I attended the National Unity Forum, organised by Jabatan Perpaduan Negara (Prime Minister's Department). Mr. Philip Koh spoke on the Rukunegara and its diminished value. Yes, he said, Rukunegara was spawned in response to May 13th, 1969 (the mass riots that massacred many an unsuspecting Chinese in Kuala Lumpur). The Rukunegara was a document forged in response to the terrible events that were to be a fearful memory for many Chinese and a warning to the non-Malays in the country.

Yet today, the Rukunegara is severely neglected.

I asked a question at the Q & A slot.

"Mr. Philip Koh:
Indonesia has the Pancasila, Islam has Maqasid as-Syariah and Malaysia has the Rukunegara. I agree that it is a useful aid in interpreting the Constitution. Do you agree that it is time we recognised that the Rukunegara is a constitutional document, and it should be made the preamble of our Constitution?"

Mr. Philip Koh answered:
1. Constitutional documents are very important,
2. The Rukunegara may, in fact, be a convention and not a constitutional document, and
3. Inserting the Rukunegara into the Constitution may be useful, but
4. If it is not heeded, it remains dead letter law.

What do you think?