Rukun negara as constitution’s preamble: an overview

• Main Authors: Nur Amani, Pauzai, Noor ‘Ashikin, Hamid, Ahmad Zafry, Mohamad Tahir
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: JS Local government Municipal government; K Law (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/1988/1/FH03-FUHA-19-35926.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/1988/
• Institution: Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin

Rukun Negara is the Malaysian declaration of national philosophy where it was drafted between 1970 and 1971 by National Consultative Council and had been launched on 31 August 1970 by the Yang diPertuan Agong at that time. The aims are to realise Malaysia’s ambitions towards enhancing unity among the people; safeguarding the spirit of democracy; establishing a just society; maintaining a liberal approach in addressing diversity; and creating a progressive and technologically advanced society. In fulfilling the above ideals, the Rukun Negara underlines five core principles: Belief in God; Loyalty to the King and Country; Supremacy of the Constitution; Rule of Law; and Good Behaviour and Morality. The issue to be discussed in this paper is whether the inclusion of five core principles Rukun Negara as Federal Constitution’s preamble will strengthen and given greater effect to Rukun Negara as it will have the status of law and consequently undermine the constitutional supremacy. The methodology used in this paper was qualitative and content legal analysis method. It is clear that Federal Constitution is already complete and comprehensive. Though there are some vagueness left in the Constitution itself, it still is open for interpretations without the need of including Rukun Negara as a preamble