Bad leadership: ‘The bane of our sufferings’
‘Integrity a vital quality to ensure country prospers’
It’s the ordinary people who will suffer when leaders are untrustworthy. That’s the message from Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah at the national-level Maulidur Rasul celebration. According to him, leaders who lack integrity and aspire to line their own pockets will disrupt public order and plunge the country into poverty.
PUTRAJAYA: Leaders who lack integrity will cause suffering for the people, says Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
When those entrusted with power have no integrity, they rush to accumulate wealth through dishonourable and dubious means, he said.
“What also happens is a power struggle because power is seen as a channel or conduit to build wealth for themselves, their families and cronies,” Sultan Nazrin said in his address at the national-level Maulidur Rasul celebration here to mark the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
He added that when leaders were always aware of their greater responsibility towards the Almighty, the people’s well-being would improve and the country would prosper.
Sultan Nazrin, who is performing the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, said: “Poverty will become worse when leaders make it a priority to increase material wealth by taking away or denying the rights of the ummah (Muslim community) or through dubious means.”
Sudden material wealth, if not accompanied by wealth of the mind, intellect, knowledge and spirituality, was false and temporary, said Sultan Nazrin.
Such wealth would ultimately cause leakages in a country’s resources, lopsided development, a rise in unemployment, outward migration, increased smuggling and high crime and corruption rates.
“In the end, public order is jeopardised along with political stability, and the suffering of the ummah will worsen,” he said.
Sultan Nazrin also urged Muslim leaders to follow the noble values practised by Prophet Muhammad.
Citing an example, Sultan Nazrin said the Prophet was not swayed by worldly riches and never sought to enrich himself or his family.
“Nobody became wealthy by being close to the Prophet.
“Instead, those who were rich sacrificed their wealth to support the Prophet’s struggles,” he said.
Others present at the event included Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Min- ister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
Dr Mujahid, who gave a speech earlier at the event, reminded Malaysians that the teachings of Islam did not condone discrimination or oppression and instead sought to uphold justice and mercy in the world.
He said the philosophy of Islamic administration took into account several aspects in order to bring about a fair and just administration that would benefit all.
“In the context of a multireligious and multiracial country, when programmes and policies are drafted based on the principle of Maqasid Syariah, it will take into account justice and benefit for all without exception,” he said.
He added that all citizens would receive their rights under a just Islamic administration.
Noted Islamic scholar Datuk Paduka Nik Jaafar Nik Ismail, 82, was awarded the 2018 Anugerah Perdana Maulidur Rasul award, which comes with a RM50,000 cash prize, a trophy and a certificate of appreciation.
Nik Jaafar said he was grateful for the award and that he would continue to teach the Quran as long as he had the energy to do so.
Four others – haj expert Dr Anisah Ab Ghani, Survey and Mapping Department director Dr Azhari Mohamed, Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia adviser Yaakob Lazim and philanthropist Datuk Abd Rahman Ibrahim – received the 2018 Anugerah Maulidur Rasul award.
Each received RM20,000 cash, a trophy and a certificate of appreciation.