Rukun Negara education must start from kindergarten - Halimah

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 28 -- 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, said National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique.

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 told reporters after a flag hoisting event in conjunction with the National Month celebration here, today.

Elaborating further, she said a technical committee has been formed comprising the secretaries-general of the respective ministries and headed by the National Unity Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Md Radzi.

In another development, Halimah said the ministry would introduce a Star Rating system next year to evaluate and strengthen 8,274 neighbourhood watch areas (KRT) in local communities.

“Previously, we evaluate the KRT based on the number of programmes held and how active they were with the communities.

“But for next year, we want to improve our evaluation by taking into account the KRT management aspect, administration, financial management and strategic cooperation held with government agencies or NGOs,” she explained.

At today’s event, Halimah presented mock cheques of RM5,000 grant to 30 KRTs to sew personal protective equipment for the Health Ministry’s frontliners.

-- BERNAMA