Touching 50 Years, Rukun Tetangga Continues As Platform To Enhance National Integration

By Nurrul Huda Ahmad Lutfi

KANGAR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Reaching 50 years on August 29, the existence of Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) throughout the country continues to be a platform for strengthening community harmony and national integration.

With more than 8,500 KRTs nationwide, Perlis Unity director Hanita Ahmad said the role of KRTs is significant in strengthening unity through its function as a bridge between communities of various races through community programmes.

"Therefore, the role of KRTs is not only relevant but increasingly needed to ensure that the national unity agenda continues to flourish and take root in the hearts of the people," she told Bernama recently.

According to the Department of National Unity and National Integration (JPNIN) portal, the Rukun Tetangga Scheme was launched by the Second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak on August 29, 1975 in Kampung Kassipilay, Kuala Lumpur.

Hanita said that after five decades, KRT is now a space for residents to interact regardless of religious, cultural and political ideology through various activities such as festive season open houses, gotong-royong, harmony dialogue and community sports that have successfully fostered mutual respect and tolerance.

"From a security perspective, the SRS (Voluntary Patrol Scheme) under KRT is also very helpful in ensuring that residents feel safe in patrol areas," she said.

She said KRT activities are divided into three main clusters, namely Unity, Nationhood and Rahmah Community which cover several areas including religion, sports, education, recreation, social, security, health, welfare, economy and culture.

Hanita said that in Perlis, there are 142 KRTs that have been gazetted and of that number, approximately 85 per cent of KRTs are active with various unity activities carried out at community-level.

Asked about the involvement of young people in KRT activities in Perlis, she said positive developments can be seen through the introduction of new, more creative and inclusive approaches such as community sports, e-sports competitions, volunteering activities, joint security patrols with SRS and social innovation projects.

“KRT has succeeded in attracting the interest of the younger generation and their presence has not only further enlivened neighbourhood activities, but also become a new bridge in building future leadership.

“I believe that with the continuation of this effort, young people in Perlis will continue to be an important asset for KRT in moving the unity agenda, thus proving that KRT is relevant to the current generation,” she said.

In conjunction with this year’s National Month, Hanita hopes that KRT can be a platform to renew the commitment to defend peace, reject division and live up to the principles of Rukun Negara as the basis of living together.

-- BERNAMA