Published: Sunday April 19, 2009 MYT 12:33:00 PM
Updated: Sunday April 19, 2009 MYT 12:51:41 PM

Raja Nazrin resolute in defending monarchy from ridicule

KUALA KANGSAR: The Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah today said he would implement all efforts to ensure the institution of royalty, which was core to the system of governance and nationhood in the country, would continue to be protected.

“An offspring will not allow the dignity and sovereignty of a ruler to be ridiculed.

As such the people must be conscious not to be hasty to throw the lamp away, as daylight too will end.

“Let it not be that as night falls, people grope about directionless, blanketed in darkness without a lamp,” he said at the pledging of loyalty and awards ceremony in conjunction with the 81st birthday of the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah at Istana Iskandariah here Sunday.

He said the Malay Sultanate was not just a symbol in the country but had an important role as the centre of strength for the people.

Raja Nazrin said the administrative system with the Malay Sultanate as its core had been in place for over 600 years and had succeeded in developing a great culture and civilisation.

He said the wisdom of royalty aided the developmental process of intellectuality and from the palace emanated great works of art in writings.

“The Malay Rulers are the symbols of sovereignty, the symbols of citizens’ strength and the umbrella for the country’s crown. The Malay Rulers give identity to the nation.

“People who understand the culture of monarchy will understand the philosophy of royal administration, the role of rulers, especially the role and responsibility of holding up national identity,” he said.

He said the continuity of a race and the face of a nation depended on factors that gave it identity from the aspects of institutions, religion, culture and language.

“Actions of insulting institutions, ridiculing institutions, fermenting hatred towards institutions are early steps in the movement towards abolishing the institutions therefore abolishing the original identity of the country’s race.

“During the Cold War, such steps came from groups who held on to left wing political doctrine and were categorised as subversive.

“In the name of the Cultural Revolution in China and communist indoctrination in Cambodia and Vietnam, children were incited to extreme levels, hating and making enemies of their own parents; religious leaders were criticised and places of worship destroyed; some places of worship turned into places to breed animals; leading to anarchy that had to be paid with lives and blood; and the social fabric destroyed,” he said.

Raja Nazrin said the world now faced waves of globalisation that hit all borders to break down cultural walls and possibly drowning national history.

He said the younger generation which was being hit by these waves should be wise to balance claims of tradition and demands of modernity.

He said there were some who believed that to progress, focus must be on a progressive culture and they said that traditions and history would cause backwardness in a static culture.

“Globalisation actually brings waves of new colonialism to drown the traditions of a country, wiping out original identity.

“People must be aware that not all that is traditional hinders progress as tradition that is interpreted wisely and intelligently can function to bring progress.

“The cultural elements that have been factors of unity till this day are priceless social capital that should be defended,” he said. -- Bernama

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