PETALING JAYA: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has reminded the country's leaders to think carefully before making decisions.
In his royal address on Tuesday (June 2) for his official birthday, Sultan Ibrahim noted that more political parties or factions within a party could lead to greater division and dislike among the people.
"There is no better gift for me than seeing people united. I have said it before, there is a virus that will attack our country."
"Now we see that the virus has begun to spread and cannot be cured. This is why I keep reminding about the matter so that we don’t forget about it," he said.
Sultan Ibrahim urged leaders not to exploit sensitive issues for political gain, as this can cause community conflict and threaten national stability.
He emphasised that civil servants must be honest and trustworthy in their duties, without betraying the country's and people's trust.
Civil servants, he added, must be free from political influence, impartial, and always uphold the nation's and people's best interests.
"Government officers must ensure every decision is made according to rules and regulations instead of political influence. Every expenditure must also be accounted for, and not used indiscriminately by ministers or MPs to lure votes until the country incurs huge debts. All enforcement agencies should be brave while carrying out their duties with integrity."
"Don’t make the people lose their trust and respect for the uniform they have adorned," he said.
Separately, Sultan Ibrahim announced a royal expedition to the Federal Territories to see the lives of the people and distribute zakat to the poor and underprivileged.
He commended the recent Asean Summit, highlighting Malaysia's leaders' ability to forge regional and international cooperation.
Although some parties doubted Malaysia’s ability, Sultan Ibrahim said all obstacles and challenges were overcome through cooperation, especially among civil servants.
