A RENEWED call by the Sultan of Selangor for leaders to reflect on national unity has prompted a strong response from Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, who today revisited the Rukun Negara at Dataran Selangor.
Speaking to The Vibes following his visit, Liu said the experience of re-reading the national principles in their historical context carried a deeper and more urgent meaning amid today’s increasingly polarised political climate.
He noted that while many Malaysians had memorised the Rukun Negara in their youth, its true significance could only be fully appreciated when viewed against the backdrop of the May 13 Incident.
“Standing here today and truly understanding the history and spirit behind it made me realise that what our national forefathers left behind was not merely a few slogans, but a set of national wisdom forged through one of the country’s darkest moments,” Liu said.
The DAP veteran stressed that the formation of the Rukun Negara was a deliberate effort to prevent the recurrence of racial conflict, social fragmentation and extremist politics, underscoring its continued relevance in safeguarding Malaysia’s multiracial fabric.
At the heart of the philosophy, he said, lies a shared commitment to coexistence — across race, religion and culture — built on mutual respect and a collective vision for the future.
“Its principles — belief in God, loyalty to King and country, supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, and good behaviour and morality — encapsulate the core values required for the long-term stability of a multiracial nation,” he added.
Liu’s remarks come amid growing concerns over rising political hostility and divisive rhetoric, which he warned could erode institutional integrity and social cohesion if left unchecked.
Framing his response in line with the Selangor ruler’s decree, Liu issued a pointed call to political leaders across the divide to reassess their conduct.
“I sincerely call upon all political leaders — whether from the government or the opposition — to revisit the Rukun Negara and reflect on whether their strategies, rhetoric and actions truly uphold the Constitution, the rule of law, and national unity,” he said.
He argued that the strength of a nation ultimately rests not on political dominance, but on the resilience of its institutions and the maturity of its society.
“What truly stabilises a nation is civilisation, institutions, rule of law, mutual respect and social unity,” he stressed.
Liu also expressed appreciation to the country’s founding generation, noting that the Rukun Negara remains a vital compass for Malaysia’s future.
“Only now are we beginning to fully realise that what they left behind was not merely words, but an enduring guide for the nation’s stability and progress,” he said.
Recently, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah instructed Ronnie and Seri Kembangan assemblywoman Wong Siew Ki to read the Rukun Negara weekly in order to better understand its contents and become civilised citizens who respect the royal institution.
The ruler also decreed that all Selangor state assembly members should attend Dataran Selangor twice monthly to recite the Rukun Negara inscribed on a plaque at the square.
The royal remarks followed controversy surrounding Wong’s proposal to allow modern closed-system pig farming in Selangor, made in response to the Sultan’s earlier decree in February rejecting such activities in any district within the state.
Ronnie had defended Wong’s proposal, describing it as a technical solution presented within the framework of legitimate legal institutions. – May 20, 2026
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