Muhyiddin visits Rukun Negara exhibition gallery

PUTRAJAYA, July 9 -- Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today visited the Rukun Negara exhibition gallery showcasing materials and historical pictures relating to the drafting of the national philosophy.

He visited the gallery after launching the 50th anniversary celebration of Rukun Negara at the Perdana Putra building here.

Muhyiddin was also given a briefing on the exhibition gallery by Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Suhaimi Sulaiman.

One of the main attractions at the exhibition is a piece of paper featuring Minutes of First Meeting on the Drafting of Rukun Negara, dated March 30, 1970,

The minutes of the meeting, among others, mentioned the meeting which was held at 10am at Treasury, Kuala Lumpur was chaired by Tun Tan Siew Sin (former Finance Minister).

It also stated that Tan Sri Muhammad Gazali Shafie (former Home Minister) was among those who attended the meeting.

Courtesy of the National Archives, the minutes of the meeting is a historical document obtained during the early stages of the formation of Rukun Negara.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.

The exhibition also features local newspaper cuttings as well as 81 photographs relating to the formation of Rukun Negara which were provided by Bernama, the National Archives and the Information Department.

Among the newspaper cutting showcased at the exhibition, are an article from the Straits Times entitled "5-Point guide for all" and Utusan Malaysia's "Lima Prinsip Rukun Negara" article, dated Sept 1, 1970

With the concept of "time tunnel", visitors will be taken to explore seven panels, five of which represent each of the five Rukun Negara principles.

-- BERNAMA