Perak ruler’s office lodges report over statement citing decree out of context

IPOH: The Office of the Sultan of Perak has lodged a police report over a viral statement containing an extract from a decree by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

Orang Kaya Bendahara Seri Maharaja General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dr Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin said the statement aimed to link the sultan to attempts to create racial and religious strife.

He said the Office of the Sultan of Perak lodged the report on Thursday to prevent the smearing of Sultan Nazrin’s name by some for their own agendas.

He said the viral statement, titled “Amanah Membina Negara”, was racial in nature and had taken out of context a speech that Sultan Nazrin made 19 years ago.

The statement included an excerpt of a decree that was issued when Sultan Nazrin was still Raja Nazrin Shah at the 2nd Malay Education Congress on March 27, 2005 at Berjaya Times Square Hotel and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Zahidi said Sultan Nazrin was concerned by the unethical act of using his past statement out of context in a racially charged statement and said such acts could have a direct impact on peace in the country.

“The decree by Raja Nazrin Shah had 68 paragraphs and 5,748 words.

“In the decree, His Highness touched on factors that affect the strengths and weaknesses of the Malays.

“It also touched on the importance of them being free in mind and spirit, enriched with positive values, as well as having the freedom to seek knowledge.

“His Highness had stressed on how religion, leaders, family, the community as well as knowledge and education play a key role in the Malay community.

“His Highness had issued a reminder that we should not be too easily trapped and too easily repeat negative phrases that could lower one’s standing.”

He said His Highness had decreed that how one chooses to be perceived would influence how other people see your race.

“If such issues are so quickly seen as weaknesses, then padi would be seen as weeds, while rice would be seen as sand.

“His Highness wants the people to realise that when people choose to denigrate their own race, it will open the door for other races to insult it.”

Zahidi said Sultan Nazrin’s decree at the time did not in any way reference any race in the country.

He said as such, it was certain that some quarters were trying to ignite racial and religious flames by using extracts from the decree out of context.

He said police had informed Sultan Nazrin about the petrol bomb incident at a KK Mart outlet in Bidor on March 26.

He said the sultan had described the incident as worrying and it needed serious attention to prevent racial flames from being stoked further.

“His Highness believes that the majority of Malaysians are rational, moderate and prioritise harmony and peace.

“High Highness gave his assurance that he would offer protection to all Malaysians of all races and religion equally.

“This is to enable the people to continue to live in peace and harmony, for everyone to collectively develop Malaysian into a more peaceful and prosperous nation.”