Fair and just leaders must be respected – Perak Sultan

IPOH: Muslim leaders who are fair, just, honest, sincere, and trustworthy; uphold the good and fight falsehood; fulfill God's commands and trust; must be respected, in line with the call of the Quran, said the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah.

He said elected Muslim leaders had a heavy responsibility to lead a nation in a straight and righteous path, so that Muslims could continue to be blessed with bounties in the world, and hereafter.

"On the day of resurrection, the burden borne by a leader is very heavy, for his willingness to accept the trust. Every word and every deed of the leader will be weighed and measured.

"One of the main attributes of a leader is to avoid slipping away from the faith to the point where he has enslaved his soul to materialistic desires, serving other mortals, as well as being an associate and accomplice to condoning acts of evil," he said.

Raja Nazrin said this during the closing ceremony of 37th National-Level Al-Quran Memorisation programme held at the Amanjaya Convention Centre here tonight. Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim was also present.

Sultan Nazrin said the increased number huffaz (memorisers of the Quran) and the tendency of parents sending their children to attend tahfiz (memorising) programmes, was a good sign.

He said at present, there were 54 centres and schools in Perak which implemented tahfiz programmes, benefiting 4,910 students.

"The huffaz play a huge role in helping to maintain and protect the authenticity of the Quran," he said.

Sultan Nazrin also said that the Quran is not only to be read and memorised, but requires understanding and appreciation, to enable humans to see the world from a new perspective.