Rukun Negara

[3] On the 13 May 1969, three days after the 3rd general election – in which opposition parties made gains at the expense of the ruling coalition – a racial riot occurred in the nation, mainly in Kuala Lumpur.

Following the declaration of emergency, the National Operations Council (NOC) or Majlis Gerakan Malaysia (MAGERAN) in Malay was formed and acted as the administrative body of the country for the following 18 months.

[9] The council consisted of the ministers of the NOC, representatives from state governments, political parties, press, trade unions, religious, social and professional groups in Malaysia.

[12] Discussions on the Rukun Negara was made on the council's second meeting, with its members providing suggestions to the draft prepared by the Department of National Unity and its Research Advisory Group.

Aside from the initial 12 members, several individuals had also attended the council's meeting and contributed to the drafting of Rukun Negara, includinh former Lord President of the Malaysian Supreme Court, Salleh Abas,[16] and historian Khoo Kay Kim.

[21] The Rukun Negara was declared officially by the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Ismail Nasiruddin of Terengganu on August 31, 1970, which is the Malaysian Independence Day.

[19] One of the writers of the declaration, Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie, also gave a talk on the annual general meeting of the department's Union of Employees regarding the Rukun Negara.

Of some interest, the Rukun Negara could usually be found behind the cover of every exercise book that is typically used by primary and secondary Malaysian public school students.

[30] This is primarily a move recognised to have been formulated to emulate the similar tactic introduced by the Singapore government immediately after its expulsion from the Malaysian federation in 1965.