MORE than 60,000 young people are expected to participate in the Rukun Negara School programme by the end of the year, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said.

He said the initiative is aimed at providing an understanding and knowledge of national democracy.

He said youth aged 15 to 30 could participate in the programme, which is implemented in three phases, namely the basic, intermediate and advanced courses.

“Rukun Negara School is a national programme to answer questions about political literacy. In this programme, we do not just lecture but also encourage participants to make it a space for expression.

“The aim is to ensure that we provide political and democratic education in line with current needs where 18-year-old students are already voters.

“It is unfair that we burden them with responsibilities without giving them space to discuss politics in a healthy way,” he told reporters after launching the programme in Bangi today.

Adam said the basic course will last for half a day and can be conducted in schools, universities, campuses or youth centres.

The three-day intermediate and four-day advanced courses will be held at Kem Wawasan Negara run by the Institute of Leadership Development and Excellence (i- LEAD).

Adam said the modules will include the Federal Constitution, parliament, the electoral process, Rukun Negara principles, elections and local government.

“Various parties, including non-governmental organisations and political parties in Malaysia, are involved in the development of the modules,” he said.

Adam said 16,759 people have participated in the programme since its launch on May 6.

He said the ministry is also aiming for nine million viewers to follow the programme through the Youth and Sports Ministry’s social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, which have so far garnered 2.1 million views.

The Rukun Negara School programme is an initiative of i- LEAD, under the Sports and Youth Ministry, to strengthen integrity on aspects of nationhood and unity based on the appreciation of the principles of Rukun Negara and the Federal Constitution to enhance youth knowledge and understanding of the democratic system in Malaysia. – Bernama, July 12, 2023.