A great honour: Sultan Nazrin conferring the Darjah Dato’ Seri Cura Si Manja Kini award to Shamsul Azri at the investiture ceremony at Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar. Also present is Tuanku Zara. — Bernama
Sultan Nazrin warns against exploiting race and religion for personal gain
KUALA KANGSAR: Malaysians must reject any action or rhetoric that threatens national unity, says Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah.
The Ruler also warned that those who exploit race, religion or regional issues for personal gain risked poisoning the nation’s harmony.
Speaking at the investiture ceremony in conjunction with his 69th birthday at Istana Iskandariah, His Royal Highness cautioned that independence would lose its meaning if the nation became a “house of discord”, urging citizens to uphold the spirit of consensus and unity forged by the country’s founding leaders.
The Ruler said the effort to unite the people will inevitably face major obstacles when certain quarters choose to sensationalise issues of race, religion, state or region.
“... at a time when we should instead be focusing on strengthening cooperation and deepening the understanding forged by past leaders.
“This nation must not be turned into a house of discord, nor a playground for those intoxicated by power. The meaning of independence will be reduced to rubble when the tongues of some citizens become more poisonous than a venom-tipped arrow, spreading toxins into the minds of the people,” the Sultan said.
Sultan Nazrin also stated that independence is not merely a celebration of raising the flag while singing the national anthem; it is a symbol of the nation’s dignity and the starting point of a country standing on its own feet.
“Independence is not just freedom from colonial rule, but also the attainment of intellectual liberty, political maturity, along with success in growing the economy and developing the nation. Most importantly, it must be upheld by the people who embrace the spirit of unity.
“Malaysia, which began with the formation of the Federation of Malaya, is a nation enshrined in the clauses of the Federal Constitution, recognising a population composed of various races practising different religions, inheriting diverse cultures, and speaking multiple languages,” the Ruler said.
Sultan Nazrin said it is highly detrimental if differences are viewed negatively and laden with suspicion, as this can undermine harmonious relations among people and disturb the equilibrium in inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations.
Sultan Nazrin also stressed that the spirit of consensus established and achieved by the nation’s founding leaders must continue to be respected, therefore, any voice, demand, or action that contradicts this spirit of unity must be firmly opposed.
His Royal Highness also warned that the actions of certain quarters, driven excessively by emotion, could pose serious risks to the nation, Bernama reported.
“There is still much to be done to improve the welfare of the people, especially those living in poverty.
“The people must not be made victims of seemingly endless political disputes, when the nation’s energy and resources are better directed towards more productive endeavours,” said the Ruler.
At the investiture ceremony, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar led the list of 30 recipients honoured by the Sultan.
The awards, part of the 238 honours conferred this year, recognised the contributions of top civil servants, security chiefs and state officials.
His Royal Highness was accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim at the investiture ceremony yesterday.
Shamsul Azri was conferred the Darjah Dato’ Seri Cura Si Manja Kini (SPCM), which carries the title Datuk Seri.
Sultan Nazrin also conferred the Darjah Dato’ Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP), which carries the title Datuk Seri, to Perak State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid, Solicitor-General II Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar and Orang Besar Empat Negeri Perak Datuk Dr Syed Jaafar Syed Aznan.
Chief of Defence Force Jen Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar and Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail received the Darjah Dato’ Seri Panglima Taming Sari (SPTS), which carries the title Datuk Seri Panglima.
