Sharing experiences: Sultan Nazrin during the opening ceremony of GPRCF Malaysia 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, flanked by (from left) Anita Azrina, Kamalanathan, Fahmi and Gnanalingam. (Below) Rajes.
KUALA LUMPUR: Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the manner in which information is created, shared and trusted, but it also presents new challenges to the truth, says Sultan Nazrin Shah.
The Sultan of Perak emphasised that it was the responsibility of journalists, strategists, educators and leaders to humanise technology.
“To ensure that innovation never replaces empathy, and that speed never supersedes sincerity, we must remain vigilant,” he said in his royal address at the Global Public Relations Conference and Festival (GPRCF) Malaysia 2025.
“In an age where misinformation spreads faster than understanding, we must face these challenges not with hostility but with wisdom and a commitment to truth and peaceful engagement,” he said, reported Bernama.
In this digital era, Sultan Nazrin stressed the importance of nurturing human values, noting that Malaysia’s strength lies in its diversity, and that words must connect rather than divide.
“I am ever mindful that words carry immense weight. The civility of our national discourse reflects the civility of our nation itself.
“Communication that enlightens rather than inflames is part of what sustains the dignity of our institutions and the unity of our people,” he said.
The Ruler cautioned that harsh or divisive speech erodes trust and cohesion, and that public communicators must choose their words with wisdom and conscience.
Also present were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, former Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang and Malaysian Press Institute president Datuk Yong Soo Heong, who is also a former Bernama editor-in-chief, PRactitioners Chairman Datuk P. Kamalanathan, who is also the Organising Chairman of GPRCF, and PRactitioners Founding Mentors Datin Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz and Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam.
As Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship nears its conclusion, Sultan Nazrin urged Asean member states to prioritise cooperation over confrontation and to encourage communicators across the region to bridge divides and translate policies into understanding.
The inaugural three-day conference, organised by the Public Relations Practitioners Society of Malaysia (PRactitioners), brought together over 500 communication leaders, media professionals, policymakers and academics fromMalaysia and abroad.
In the women and media session, Star Media Group’s senior sports editor Rajes Paul was among the panellists in a 45-minute discussion moderated by Shamin Logan from PRactitioners.
Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi, former senator and former Bernama chairman, was also in the panel which discussed how women in the media can sustain their sense of humanity in an industry that constantly demands speed, visibility and high output.
In the session themed “Humanity Amplified in the Age of Intelligence”, Ras Adiba urged women to stand tall and speak up.
Rajes, who has been with the company for 28 years, agreed: “Giving voice to the voiceless and highlighting those often overlooked has kept me going as a woman leader in the media world.
“It is my desire to see more women stepping up and pursuing their calling to make a difference,” she said.
Fahmi, meanwhile, highlighted three key calls to action for the public relations and communications community – to raise professional standards, embrace transparency and elevate Malaysia’s image on the global stage.
The first call, he said, is to lift standards by expanding mentorship, strengthening ethics and working with universities to nurture communicators who are both tech-savvy and empathetic.
“Second, be transparent. If content is synthetic, say so. If data is incomplete, acknowledge it. If facts change, guide the public through that change.
“...and third, showcase Malaysia to the world, and the world to Malaysia. Through your stories, the world will see a Malaysia that is progressive, inclusive and confident,” he said.
