Sultan Ibrahim said the Rukun Negara, introduced on Aug 31, 1970, is a national pledge and commitment by all Malaysians to restore unity and strengthen social harmony among the country’s diverse communities.
“Therefore, I urge all to uphold every principle of the Rukun Negara and to practise it as a guiding framework in daily life as Malaysians.
“Any Malaysian who refuses to adhere to the principles of the Rukun Negara, I advise, is not worthy of being called a Malaysian citizen,” he said.
The king was speaking at the investiture ceremony held in conjunction with his official birthday celebration at Istana Negara, which was also attended by the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Raja Zarith Sofiah.
Also present were Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and members of the Cabinet, including communications minister Fahmi Fadzil, and foreign dignitaries.
Sultan Ibrahim said Malaysians must be united, tolerant and respectful of one another while adhering to the principles of the Rukun Negara.
He said such national unity forms the foundation of Malaysia’s strength, ensuring economic progress, racial harmony, and long-term stability.
He reminded all parties to reflect on the nation’s painful history, particularly the May 13, 1969 racial riots, which erupted when certain groups acted irresponsibly, disregarded the sensitivities of others, and failed to uphold mutual respect and the nation’s sovereignty.
“That incident has destroyed the unity of the people and undermined the stability of the country. Do not let history repeat itself,” he said.
Social media no place for slander
Sultan Ibrahim also warned that social media should not be used as a platform to spread slander and hatred among the people.
He said the situation has become more complicated due to the misuse of artificial intelligence to generate fake news through deepfake videos.
He urged the authorities to continue strengthening monitoring efforts and take appropriate action to curb such activities.
The ceremony marked the third investiture conducted by Sultan Ibrahim since his installation as the Yang di–Pertuan Agong on July 20, 2024.