Sultan Sharafuddin, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and Tengku Amir on their way to an award ceremony at Balairung Seri at Istana Alam Shah in Klang. — KK SHAM/The Star
THE people of Selangor can always depend on their Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to speak up whenever things are not right, and to impart sound advice and guidance whenever the need arises.After the movie Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan (Mat Kilau: Rise of the Warrior) was released to rave reviews earlier this year, the Sultan urged the Malay community and political leaders to watch the movie.
He said it depicted how disunity among the Malays had resulted in outsiders taking control of governance.
“I encourage the people of this nation, especially the Malays, to watch the movie so it can be an example and lesson on how a civilisation and nation could collapse in the event that there is no unity or cooperation,” the Sultan had said.
The Ruler had added that disunity was a critical problem that could adversely affect the harmonious coexistence in a multi-racial society and rattle the nation’s political stability.
Sultan Sharafuddin said that he had no intention to interfere in the country’s administration and politics, but felt compelled to speak out on the matter.
The Selangor Ruler is known to speak his mind and impart sound advice whenever the need arises. — Photo courtesy of Selangor Royal Office Facebook page
“I feel that 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,” Sultan Sharafuddin added.
The Ruler said that besides inculcating unity and togetherness amongst them, Malay political leaders must also work closely with non-Malay leaders to ensure the nation’s development is given priority and every Malaysian is well taken care of.
Sultan Sharafuddin had also voiced his despair over the insults and hate being conveyed on social media lately.
What was more disappointing, he said, was that the slanderous comments were blindly supported by netizens and if not curbed, they would damage the thinking of the community, especially the younger generation.
“Issues such as slander and fake news, which are becoming more prevalent, have caused tension among certain groups in our society.
“I don’t want problems like this to continue to spread as it can affect the harmony of the people and the strength of unity in the long term,” the Sultan had said during the inauguration ceremony of the Raja Lumu Royal Mosque earlier this year.
Sultan Sharafuddin and Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin arriving at a Chinese New Year open house as part of state-level celebrations. — NORAFIFI EHSAN/The Star
When there was dissent from certain quarters over the Bon Odori festival in June this year, Sultan Sharafuddin stepped in and did what was necessary.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) at the time, Datuk Idris Ahmad, had warned Muslims to not participate in the festival, alleging that it had Japanese religious elements.
Sultan Sharafuddin immediately stepped in and instructed the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) not to obstruct the festival being held in the state.
He had pointed out that Bon Odori had been held in Selangor for decades as a bridge to connect the Japanese community, as well as Japanese businesses operating here, with the local community.
Sultan Sharafuddin also asked Idris to attend Bon Odori in order to understand the difference between religion and culture.
In September this year, Sultan Sharafuddin advised the people to always respect the rule of law and the Judiciary’s independence.
“The Federal Constitution has placed the dignity of the judicial institution at a high level as an independent and authoritative body. The Judiciary is the last buffer that must be defended to ensure the administration of justice is carried out effectively,” the Ruler had said.
Sultan Sharafuddin added that judicial independence meant that judges handled cases based on law-based facts and evidence sans fear, favour or unwanted interference.
Sultan Sharafuddin and Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin looking at His Highness’ personal keris collection during an exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month. — Bernama
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Sultan Sharafuddin had also lambasted those who refused to get vaccinated against the virus.
Among those who had received the Ruler’s reprimand were some religious school teachers and mosque officials who had refused to get inoculated against Covid-19.
Expressing sadness and disappointment over their stance, Sultan Sharafuddin had said their stubbornness would cause problems for others such as religious school students.
The Sultan then asked for the names of religious school teachers, mosque committee members and marriage solemnisers who declined to be vaccinated.
Sultan Sharafuddin had also directed that the exercise to vaccinate factory workers be expedited given that Selangor had many factories and manufacturing plants.
The state’s Orang Asli community is also very close to the Sultan’s heart. The Ruler had asked the state government to hasten the exercise of identifying and gazetting of Orang Asli land in his address at the opening of the 2009 session of the Selangor Legislative Assembly sitting.
“I want to stress the need to acknowledge and preserve Orang Asli land which had been seized from them in the last few years,’’ Sultan Sharafuddin said.
A big critic of graft, the Ruler granted an audience to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Datuk Seri Azam Baki last year to discuss the many cases involving civil servants.
Sultan Sharafuddin, who is also chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia, presenting a PhD certificate to disabled graduate Arul Das Arumugam during the university’s46th convocation ceremony in November. — Bernama
In his royal address at the opening of the State Legislative Assembly last year, Sultan Sharafuddin said it was regrettable that there were still those who were dishonest and misused the trust given to them in their capacity as civil servants or political leaders.
“I am giving another reminder that I do not want to hear of any reports about the involvement of the state’s civil servants and political leaders in bribery.
“I have directed the MACC to carry out in-depth investigations to clear Selangor of corrupt practices,” the Ruler had added.
An avid reader, Sultan Sharafuddin owns a massive collection of books on almost every topic in his palace as well as several other locations.
The Ruler has also donated a large number of books to libraries over the years.
Sultan Sharafuddin was born on Dec 24, 1945, at Istana Jemaah in Klang as Tengku Idris Shah to the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, who was the Raja Muda at the time, and his first wife Raja Saidatul Ihsan Tengku Badar Shah.
Sultan Sharafuddin became the Raja Muda of Selangor at the age of 15 in 1960, when his father was installed as the Sultan of Selangor.
Sultan Sharafuddin ascended the throne in November 2001 upon Sultan Salahuddin’s demise.
The Sultan attended the Malay Primary School in Jalan Raja Muda, Kuala Lumpur, before enrolling in St John’s Institution.
The Sultan continued his schooling at Hale School in Perth, Australia, in 1960 and later enrolled in Langhurst College in Surrey, England, in 1964.
Sultan Sharafuddin became a civil servant upon his return to the country and served in the Selangor state secretariat, Kuala Lumpur district office and police department.
Sultan Sharafuddin has three children – Tengku Zerafina, Tengku Zatashah and Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah, as well as a granddaughter.
The Ruler is married to Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Noorashikin.
May Sultan Sharafuddin be blessed with good health and many more years ahead.
Daulat Tuanku!
