Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir inspecting a guard of honour mounted in conjunction with the state-level Merdeka Day celebration.
FROM gracing state functions and community gatherings to attending cultural celebrations and charity events, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir is a Ruler who consistently connects with the people and understands their issues firsthand.
Whether greeting congregants at Friday prayers in local mosques or inspiring graduates to reach for greater heights, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, who celebrates his 77th birthday today, always takes a keen interest in his subjects and encourages them to fulfil their potential.
As the chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Tuanku Muhriz often advises graduates to follow their moral compass and emulate good values.
During the university’s 52nd convocation ceremony in November, the Ruler commended its many achievements, including its current position as the 138th best university in the QS World University Rankings.
Tuanku Muhriz also advised students and university personnel not to rest on their laurels, regardless of the accolades garnered, as the university plays an important role in promoting the national identity and the empowerment of the Rukun Negara.
“No matter how much the university achieves, I hope its founding principles will be continually appreciated and embedded in your hearts. The university’s establishment and history are tied to the empowerment of the national language, the appreciation of patriotic values, and the development of higher education rooted in national culture,” the Ruler said.
Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir and his consort Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud arriving at the state-level Merdeka Day celebration held at the Padang MBS in Seremban
Tuanku Muhriz added that since his appointment as chancellor, he has witnessed the university’s various initiatives to improve its policies, governance, and operations.
“I urge the university’s administrators to continue carrying out such initiatives and to pay particular attention to maintaining financial and administrative efficiency and integrity.
“This would help improve the accountability and productivity of administrators and increase the rakyat’s faith and confidence in public institutions,” the Ruler added.
Tuanku Muhriz also expressed hope that UKM would continue to produce academically successful individuals with good values, such as integrity.
“This is because real success is not merely measured by an individual’s academic achievements but also by their manners, morals, character, and ethics,” the Ruler said in his address.
Tuanku Muhriz is known for his ready smile and kind words, but behind this gentle demeanour is a Ruler genuinely concerned about the rakyat’s betterment and instituting positive change.
Speaking at the state-level Maulidur Rasul celebrations in September, the Ruler reminded people to work together to strengthen unity and foster brotherhood for the nation’s continued peace and prosperity.
Tuanku Muhriz cited Prophet Muhammad’s leadership which prioritised social justice, equality and moral integrity as an example.
Tuanku Muhriz, accompanied by youth and sports Minister Hannah yeoh, posing with members of the negri sembilan wushu team after presenting them with certificates for their achievements.
“While Islam is the religion of the federation as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, equal respect must be accorded to the rights of non-Muslims too.
“Islam also emphasises ad-Din, which places importance on unity and good relations between all human beings,” he said.
Always one to speak his mind, the Ruler also expressed tremendous regret and sadness over reports of child exploitation and abuse by an organisation that hid behind the cover of an Islamic welfare body.
“This behaviour is contrary to the principles that Muslims should uphold. Muslims should exemplify true Islamic values in their daily lives such as sincerity, honesty, trustworthiness, justice, unity, brotherhood, simplicity and mutual respect,” he advised.
As an avid sportsman who plays squash and a music aficionado who enjoys attending recitals, the Ruler is just as passionate about nurturing budding talent in sports and the arts.
He is also equally dedicated to improving the lives of his subjects, particularly by ensuring equal access to quality healthcare for everyone.
Tuanku Muhriz’s efforts in pushing for better access to quality healthcare for all members of society have earned him an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (RCSed).
The prestigious institution’s highest award was conferred on the Ruler in recognition of his untiring efforts to improve healthcare in impoverished communities and the advancement of surgery.
A member of the Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur DiRaja in his younger days, Tuanku Muhriz is no stranger to social work.
Tuanku Muhriz, accompanied by his sons Tunku Ali Redhauddin and Tunku Zain (right), during a visit to Hospital Chancelor Tuanku Muhriz UKM shortly after the New Year. Tunku Zain thanked the hospital's doctors, nurses, and staff for their dedication during the holiday period. - Photo from Tunku Zain's Instagram
When invited to local Rotary Club events, he often highlights causes that require attention from youth issues to the environment.
At the installation of the Rotary Club of Senawang in August, the Ruler urged the club, whose signature project involved supplying more than 200 cataract lenses to the B40 community of Negri Sembilan, to include eye health check-ups as part of their efforts to combat vision impairment.
“This meaningful project has been successfully implemented for five years. However, a lot more can be done for vision impairment as surveys show 67% of the population do not have their eyes screened yearly.
“So, I would like to suggest that the club takes a further step by organising eye health check-ups. There is an urgent need to reduce serious eye illnesses.
“I’m pleased that through joint ventures of the club with local hospitals, spectacles are provided for the less fortunate members of society.
“Yet another health project undertaken by the club is the spina bifida programme which looks into spinal issues among children.
“The club organised a seminar which brought together doctors, nurses and parents to raise awareness of these issues,” he said.
Tuanku Muhriz said this initiative by the club was timely as not many NGOs look into addressing this medical condition.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun welcoming Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir at the state-level Merdeka Day celebration held at Padang MBS in Seremban.
The Ruler also underscored the importance of aged care as Malaysia becomes an ageing society.
The United Nations predicts that in 2030, 15.3% of Malaysians will be aged 60 years and above.
“We need to prepare now for the plight of our elderly to make their lives more meaningful. I’m very glad that the club in cooperation with the Senior Citizens Club has been distributing wheelchairs to those in need.
“As with your other programmes, this assistance is given to persons irrespective of their race and religion.
“The projects you have undertaken show your strong spirit of voluntary service. I applaud the club for its good work, and urge that you expand the scope of your initiatives for the benefit of society, in keeping with your motto of Service Above Self,” he said.
Recognising the transformative power of a good education, the Ruler continues to champion various causes to ensure access to quality education for all students, with a special focus on those from underprivileged backgrounds.
In June, the Ruler graced the graduation ceremony of Sekolah Menengah Sains Tuanku Munawir, a top-tier secondary school in Seremban, where he stressed the importance of quality education.
“Every child in this country has the right to access quality education regardless of their socio-economic background. Education enables people to improve their quality of life and that of their families, helping them overcome challenges in a competitive world.
Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Muhriz officially opening the RM540mil state-of-the-art Dutch Lady Milk Industries facility at Bandar Enstek.
“An educated generation is the most valuable asset in nation-building and enables the country to stay on par with other developed nations,” he said.
Tuanku Muhriz also urged the young graduates to further their education and pursue studies that suit their talent and inclination.
He reminded those still in school to actively participate in co-curricular events because success is not only measured by examination results.
“Good character and manners can’t be learnt from books but are shaped from experiences and skills in co-curricular activities. These attributes are essential when pursuing higher education,” he said.
The Ruler inculcated many of these values and his sense of righteousness as a young law student at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (now Aberystwyth University), where he graduated with an LLB (Hons) in 1970.
When he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the UK’s University of Glamorgan in 2013, Tuanku Muhriz recounted his university days with nostalgia and affection in a speech that offered insight into his strong sense of doing what’s right.
“The time one spends as an undergraduate at a university is an important one in one’s life. For me, this period between that of a schoolboy and growing up to be an independent and responsible person took place in Aberystwyth and Wales.
“Every good university education provides a training of the mind, the ability to reason and organise, giving one the tools to get started in life.
“In the course of studying law, one also learns an important aspect of how humanity has learned to govern itself and provide order to society.
“Even in this short period covered in one’s course of study, the changes to the laws within that period reveal how society strives to improve and refine its rules of establishing order, to determine what is right or wrong, to achieve justice,” he said in his acceptance speech.
Although the Ruler went on to carve a corporate career spanning banking, finance and advertising and did not practise law, he has always been guided by the principles of equality and justice – values that he has reiterated since ascending the throne in 2009.
The Ruler’s unwavering commitment to duty, vision for a brighter future for all Malaysians irrespective of race or religion, and advocacy of fair play and justice endeared Tuanku Muhriz to the people. May his reign be blessed with continued success, good health and prosperity. Daulat Tuanku!
