Rukun Negara

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The National Principles (Malay: Rukun Negara; Jawi: ‏روکون نݢارا‎) is the Malaysian declaration of national philosophy instituted by royal proclamation on Merdeka Day, 1970, in reaction to the 13 May race riots, which occurred in 1969.^[1] The riots proved at that time that Malaysian racial balance and stability was fragile. Immediately thereafter, the Malaysian government sought ways to foster unity among the various races in Malaysia. Therefore, the National Principles were formed.

The word Rukun Negara can refer to the whole declaration, the words after the preamble (beginning Maka kami...) or the five principles alone.

The formulation of the National Principles were the efforts of the Malay: Majlis Perundingan Negara, lit. 'National Consultative Council', headed by Tun Abdul Razak. The aim of the Rukun Negara is to create harmony and unity among the various races in Malaysia.^[2] Thereafter, the New Economic Policy (1971–1990) was launched in 1971, with the aim of creating unity among the various races in Malaysia, through economic equality, via the reduction of the economic gap among the Malays and Bumiputera, with that of the Chinese and Indian communities in Malaysia.

The principles bears similarity to the Pancasila national ideology/philosophy of neighbouring Indonesia.^[3]