C1

Rukun Negara

  • Rukun Negara is a National Philosophy that formed as a National Philosophy to guide Malaysians toward a peaceful society and fair nation.

  • It should be honoured by Malaysians and viewed as a guiding life principle for all citizens, promoting peaceful society regardless of ethnicity.

  • It is presented as a philosophy that can be regarded as an overarching framework for national life and ethics.

  • Key questions triggered by this philosophy include: How to create a peaceful society? What is needed to achieve fairness in the socioeconomic context of the nation?

Five Principles of Rukun Negara

  • The Five Principles (Rukun Negara) are the core of this national philosophy. Malaysians should understand and embrace them, not just recite them from memory.

  • First Principle: Believe in God

    • Basic religious lifestyle is an important guiding principle in this nation.

    • This belief inspires people to avoid evil and choose good; it is placed first in the Rukun Negara because it grounds ethical and metaphysical considerations.

  • Second Principle: Loyalty to King and Country

    • Malaysia is a form of a Nation-State with a monarchical system, where loyalty to the King (as head of the constitutional monarchy) fosters national unity.

    • Loyalty to the King is a symbol of unity among diverse groups in the country.

  • Third Principle: Supremacy of the Constitution

    • Every Nation-State has its own constitution and legal framework.

    • Supremacy of the Constitution means it is the highest law and disputes are resolved within this framework.

  • Fourth Principle: The Rule of Law

    • The Rule of Law means that no one can overrule, exceed, or break the law.

    • This principle ensures country-wide peace and stability through clear legislation.

  • Fifth Principle: Mutual Respect and Good Social Behaviour

    • Focuses on personal interactions and social ethics beyond legal mandates.

    • Aims to produce Malaysians with empathy, tolerance, politeness, peacefulness, and consideration for others.

Sejahtera Principles - Characteristic of a Sejahtera Person

  • Sejahtera is described as self-well-being being the key to controlling and caring for oneself, which enables the individual to contribute to others

  • Sejahtera is described as self-well-being being the key to controlling and caring for oneself, which enables the individual to contribute to others’ well-being.

  • A Sejahtera person is balanced, with internal and external balance across dimensions of life.

  • A Sejahtera individual should be knowledgeable, skilful, virtuous, responsible, and able to contribute to the well-being of family, society, and the country.

  • Yasir (2020) asserts that a Sejahtera human is formed by educating a person to:
    1) Compete in contributing for family, society, and country;
    2) Develop a diligent mindset to perform tasks;
    3) Exercise self-control to resist evil elements;
    4) Collaborate and contribute to sustainable development;
    5) Live in harmony;
    6) Lead and prosper the earth for the benefit of all;
    7) Confirm welfare and prevent harm for others.

Core Values of Sejahtera Philosophy

  • The concept positions well-being as the central goal of education and societal development.

  • The ten ingredients of well-being (Sejahtera):

    • Internal (microcosmic) dimensions:

    • Physical

    • Emotional

    • Spiritual

    • Intellectual

    • Cognitive

    • Ethics

    • External (macrococosmic) dimensions:

    • Ecology

    • Economy

    • Culture

    • Society

  • The framework suggests that well-being emerges from balancing these internal and external dimensions, ultimately contributing to the well-being of the wider universe and generations to come.

  • Dzulkifli (2019) translates Sejahtera as a way of life deeply rooted in balance and harmony, sustained by preserving one’s soul, mind, life, descendants, and religion, and aligning the individual with the external environment (nature, other creations).

  • The balancing process is ongoing and must be instilled from early education through NEP implementation.

  • The goal is to educate every individual to achieve well-being so they can contribute back to society.

  • The Sejahtera model promotes not only personal development but also social responsibility and ecological stewardship.

  • It serves as a criterion for evaluating education quality beyond conventional metrics like examination results or rankings.