We must walk our talk

THERE has been negligible attempt to instil pride in our heritage among the people, especially the young. They may view these tangible relics and intangible cultural expressions as mere visual images without understanding their symbolism and historical significance, thus a sense of apathy and indifference towards the cultural heritage.
Beyond these physical cultural expressions are the national cerebral instruments such as the Negaraku and the Rukun Negara, which have not been imbedded in the minds of the young as our ethos, pride and national heritage.
Many regard the Negaraku as just a song to embellish official functions to indicate the presence of royalty or heads of state. The lyrics do not evoke in them a sense of pride and commitment; they are usually glossed over when sung.
Recently there was an official programme to promote Negaraku through essay competitions, composition of patriotic songs and even an art competition at the National Art Gallery with Negaraku as the theme. It has, however, petered out without any lasting effect. Just recently there was an attempt to instil the spirit of Negaraku by making it part of our national airline's livery.
Likewise, there was an attempt to give prominence and substance to Rukun Negara, which has for so long lingered at the back of school exercise books as mere statements. Several NGOs and individuals are of the opinion that the Rukun Negara encapsulates the quintessence of the ethos of the nation and should be inserted as a preamble to our Federal Constitution.
We need more than that to live and practise the tenets of the Rukun Negara, which requires a behavioural change and a cerebral realignment towards upholding the sanctity of the nation's aspirations.
To inculcate these spirit among the people there has to be leadership role models that extol these virtues and not just give lip service and expect the people to emulate and resonate with the aspirations of the Rukun Negara.
The problem we face is that there is a contradiction in the actions of those who extol these virtues.
For so long as there are contradictions between the official exhortation and the manifestation of their actions, the people may find difficulty in emulating the virtues of Rukun Negara and the patriotism of Negaraku.
Because of materialistic tendencies, racial chauvinism, political expediency and religious bigotry, the very tenets designed to bring us together have put us asunder.
We have lost that heritage because of vacuous myopic leadership that focuses on sectarian political and economic gains rather than the forging of a national conscience based on interactive and shared existence.
If we could streamline the cerebral sentiments and the physical behavioural actions to conform to the tenets of the Rukun Negara and the Negaraku, we would be able to muster the populace towards achieving the spirit of the two guiding beacons towards a national resilience and cohesion.
There is a dire need for serious social re-engineering that must take into account the diverse sentiments to create a common denominator without undermining the diversity but to coalesce them into a meaningful construct.
But more important is preservation of our shared values, respect for each other and a meaningful existence that transcends political schism, racial chauvinism and provincial adventurisms.
The lasting and durable heritage is one that is based on shared principles of existence that emphasises the dignity of the self and the community above partisan materialistic interests.
And this has to be inculcated in the young to develop a positive mutation in their cultural DNA. Once ingrained, then we can continue to reinforce through positive actions that would eventually enable the people to safeguard their cerebral heritage that could ensure the integrity of the nation led by a righteous governance in the interests of the people. This is the true and everlasting heritage.
Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamed Ghouse Nasuruddin is an honorary fellow at the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com