Well done: Sultan Nazrin presenting the Royal Educational Award to Mashitah Ab Razak, who also received her Bachelor of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) degree at Universiti Malaya’s 63rd Convocation ceremony. — Bernama
Sultan Nazrin: Reject despicable behaviour of ‘pseudo-leaders’
PETALING JAYA: Allowing people, particularly those in leadership positions, to engage in behaviour involving mutual condemnation and insults, is hazardous, says Sultan Nazrin Shah.
The Perak Ruler said any such leeway holds the potential to foster animosity and kindle hostility, presenting a threat to both citizens and the nation.
Sultan Nazrin said despite Malaysia being rich in customs, culture, values, and morals, there is growing concern over the diminishing emphasis on tact and good manners.
“Of late, this trend is not being ignored amongst the uneducated or those in lower social positions, but by educated high-ranking individuals, happening not in the streets or flea markets, instead happening at august public platforms, forums and venues, and even in places of worship.
“The use of harsh, obscene, slanderous, abusive, and insulting language by certain individuals, often done with pride and arrogance, is disconcerting,” Sultan Nazrin, who is Universiti Malaya Chancellor, said in his speech at the first session of the university’s 63rd Convocation Ceremony here yesterday.
He said Islam emphasises the principle of proper communication through the use of kind and gentle language, besides treating others with utmost respect, and maintaining a sense of orderliness.
Sultan Nazrin added that as early as 1973, the esteemed scholar Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas had warned of the emergence of “pseudo-leaders.”
“The ideologies, mannerisms, and examples propagated by these pseudo-leaders resemble a blend of truth and falsehood, thus instigating confusion,” he said.
Sultan Nazrin said the nation and its citizens should not be allowed to fall victim to the deceitful actions and irresponsible behaviour displayed by these pseudo-leaders.
He also said that lessons drawn from the bitter events of 1969 had called for proactive measures to prevent the propagation of provocative voices that could incite inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts.
As such, Sultan Nazrin said it was crucial to incorporate the fifth principle of the Rukun Negara, which is “courtesy and morality,” into educational programmes to protect the minds of citizens, especially school-going children, from the negative influence of uncivilised behaviour and misguided values.
He said the foundational principles of courtesy and morality serve as the cornerstone for building a harmonious society and a prosperous nation.
“It is imperative to acknowledge that the behaviour of citizens, especially leaders, shapes the image, countenance, and identity of our nation on the global stage.
“The standard or level of courtesy and morality observed among citizens functions as a barometer for the nation’s progress and level of civilisation,” he said.
According to Bernama, a total of 8,327 graduates will receive their scrolls throughout the convocation that began yesterday and will end on Dec 2.
