KLANG: Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has urged the Malay community and political leaders to watch the movie Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan (Mat Kilau: Rise of the Warrior) to see how disunity and infighting can break a nation.
The Sultan said he watched the movie and noted that it highlighted how division among the Malays paved the way for outsiders to take control.
He added that the dialogue in the movie conveyed a message to the Malay community that the strength of a race lies in the spirit of unity and devotion to Islam.
"I encourage the people of this nation, especially the Malays, to watch the movie for it to be an example and lesson on how a civilisation and nation could collapse in the event there is no unity and cooperation," Sultan Sharafuddin said in a statement on Monday (July 4).
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The movie, which is playing in cinemas now, is about Malay warrior Mat Kilau who fought the British in the late 19th century.
The Ruler said he took a serious view of disunity among the Malays, especially political leaders.
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Sultan Sharafuddin noted that this division was serious and could adversely affect unity and the harmonious coexistence of the various races as well as the nation's political stability.
"I do not intend to interfere in political affairs and the country's administration.
"However, I feel it is my responsibility to advise and give views to rectify the situation as well as urge for division among the Malays and Malay political leaders to immediately cease," he added.
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He added that this was to also ensure that the interests of the Malay community are preserved without sidelining the rights and interests of non-Malay communities.
Sultan Sharafuddin went on to say that Malay political leaders have to be aware that the development and advancement of a nation depended greatly upon stable leadership.
In the event Malay leaders failed to exhibit good and responsible leadership, the Ruler added, other races will lose respect for them (Malay leaders) and at the same time will not be supportive of Malay governance.
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While practising good leadership and not fighting each other, Malay political leaders must also cooperate with non-Malay leaders to ensure that the nation's development is prioritised to provide comfort for people of all races.
"In addition to that, I realise the act of slandering is widely happening within the community.
"The spread of unsubstantiated slanderous news as well as personal attacks against individuals has threatened communal harmony in our country.
"The openly exhibited disloyalty and hatred appears to have become a culture within our community.
"We have to realise that slander is a sin and can earn the wrath of Allah SWT," the Sultan added.
He said Islam encouraged people to live peacefully and in unity and also prohibited division and enmity.
Given this, Sultan Sharafuddin called upon all political leaders and the people of Malaysia to practise a healthy culture based on tolerance and good thoughts to achieve the aspiration of coexistence for the sake of the nation's prosperity.
"I urge that all of us collectively develop a nation that is strong, free from graft, dignified, harmonious and in adherence to the values of unity," he said.
