Malaysia's Last Historian Discusses the Rukun Negara, Racial Unity and the Social Contract

Tan Sri Professor Emeritus Dr Khoo Kay Kim talks about the principles of the Rukun Negara, which he helped formulate and which were commonly known as the Malaysian declaration of national philosophy, after the May 13 race riots.

The Rukun Negara:

* Achieving a greater unity of all her people;
* Maintaining a democratic way of life;
* Creating a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably shared;
* Ensuring a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural tradition;
* and building a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science and technology.

We, the people of Malaysia, pledge our united efforts to attain these ends, guided by these principles:

* BELIEF IN GOD
* LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
* UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION
* SOVEREIGNTY OF THE LAW, and
* GOOD BEHAVIOUR AND MORALITY

He provides his views on each, as well as on Malaysia's cultural diversity whether Malaysia will ever share a single identity, one that is not divided along racial lines, his role in the VK Lingam issue, as part of a Royal Commission.*

(* The Royal Commission of Inquiry Into the V.K. Lingam Video Clip was formed in late 2007 to investigate into an allegation of illegal intervention into the judicial appointment process of Malaysian judges purportedly occurred in 2002)

He also talks about his position in MU, how engaged the students of today are in History, what the endgame is of all this political interference, whether he is optimistic, pessimistic or neutral about the future, and what he tells his children.

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