Sultan Nazrin's Decree At The Pledge Of Loyalty And Conferment Of Perak State Honours Ceremony

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The following is Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah’s decree at the Pledge of Loyalty and Conferment of Perak State Honours Ceremony in conjunction with His Majesty’s 69th Birthday, held at Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar, today.

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

Peace be upon you, and may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you all. Greetings of peace.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the noblest of prophets and messengers, and upon his companions, their followers, the scholars, and the righteous - those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgment.

O Sovereign, O Creator, O Almighty, O Magnificent

He is Allah; there is no god but Him. The Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Source of Peace, the Bestower of Security, the Protector, the Most Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme in Majesty. Exalted is Allah above all that they associate with Him. With a heart full of gratitude, YOUR servant humbly offers praise for YOUR boundless grace, O Allah, grace that has enabled Us to mark the sixty-ninth anniversary of Our birth in good health, and to continue the reign upon the throne of the Government of the State of Perak Darul Ridzuan, in an atmosphere of peace and prosperity, where the people live in harmony and peace.

2. This year, our nation celebrates its sixty-eighth anniversary of independence. Born eleven months before this land was declared independent, We belong to a generation raised in a newly sovereign country and matured in a nation actively pursuing the ideals of independence. Thus, We have no personal experience of life under colonial rule, nor of witnessing the struggle for independence. We came to understand the colonial era and the movement and struggle for independence through history.

3. History bears witness that our nation’s independence was secured through diplomatic acumen, keen insight into colonial concerns, and the steadfast unity of our diverse peoples. The charm and wit, coupled with the diplomatic acumen and pragmatism of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, reflected his hallmark of a true statesman. His mastery of negotiation secured independence while preserving the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers and safeguarding the special position of the Malays, balanced with the legitimate interests of other communities - all enshrined within the Merdeka Constitution. The late Tunku, endowed with wisdom, sincerity and an unwavering spirit of nationhood, earned the trust and confidence of the people - across ethnicities, religions and states. The people of the 11 states were united, not only through political coalitions but also as one broader community.

4. In a message dated 31 August 1957, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II conveyed these words:

“I have entrusted to my uncle the duty of acting as my representative at the celebrations of the Independence of your country. This is a great and memorable day for you; my thoughts and my good wishes are with you as you take up the great and stimulating responsibilities of independence; and it is with deep and real pleasure that I welcome you to the brotherhood of our Commonwealth family of nations.

I am confident that Malaya will respond worthily to the challenging tasks of independence, and that she will continue to show the world that example of co-operation and goodwill between all ethnicities that has been so marked a feature of her history. May God bless you and guide the new nation.”

5. Historical facts cannot be erased. The independence of this nation was achieved through a collective struggle. This country was built through shared effort - the endeavour of the people of the Federation of Malaya, composed of many ethnicities and faiths. Six years later, the peoples of Sabah and Sarawak joined in unity, forming in 1963 the independent and sovereign nation of Malaysia. 6. The mat of independence laid before us was woven together by the hands of our ancestors. With wisdom, they intertwined pandanus leaves of many colours into one mat - a resting place for generations to sit upon in the peaceful fields of Malaysia. Patriotic citizens, true Malaysians, must protect the long-woven fabric of unity among peoples of various ethnicities, faiths, cultures and languages. Unity is the foundation upon which continuity, harmony, prosperity and independence depend. Therefore, any act that threatens to divide or disrupt harmony among the ethnicities must be firmly opposed.

7. Efforts to unite the people will always face challenges when some choose to sensationalise issues of ethnicity, religion, state or region, at a time when we should instead focus on strengthening cooperation and deepening the understanding pioneered by our forebears. This country must never become a house of discord, a stage for the intoxicated pursuit of power. The meaning of independence will crumble when the tongues of some citizens become more poisonous than arrows, spreading venom to corrupt minds.

8. Independence is not merely the raising of flags or the singing of patriotic songs. It is the emblem of a nation’s dignity - the moment the nation rises to stand upon its own feet. True independence is not only freedom from colonial rule, but the liberation of thought, the deepening of political maturity, the pursuit of economic progress, and the unfolding of national development. Most importantly, it is sustained by citizens who embody the spirit of one people, one nation. For more than six decades, we have laboured to build a nation enriched by its diversity of ethnicities, religions, cultures and languages. Malaysia, born of the Federation of Malaya, is constitutionally defined as a nation of many ethnicities, faiths and traditions, each inheriting a vibrant mosaic of languages and heritage.

9. Mankind was created by the Almighty in diverse ethnicities and tribes. Allah the Exalted alone knows the wisdom and purpose behind His creation. Those endowed with reason are called to reflect upon His divine message, to understand, embrace and live by the meaning of His words in Surah alHujurat, verse 13:

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Indeed, the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most righteous among you, not the one of higher lineage or race.” (Surah al-Hujurat, 49:13)

10. Verse 13 of Surah al-Hujurat opens with the address, “O mankind”. This divine reminder is addressed to all of humanity, encompassing both Muslims and non-Muslims. Allah the Exalted calls upon humankind, created in diverse nations and tribes, to know one another and to live in mutual harmony. Allah the Exalted forbids humankind from engaging in conflict and hostility.

11. Allah the Exalted has endowed humankind with the intellect to think. Use it with wisdom. The wise recognise that the rich diversity of God’s creation is a precious gift. Our differences in ethnicity, religion, culture and language are blessings that enrich this earth. It is a misfortune for any civilisation, and a loss to humanity, when diversity is viewed through a lens of prejudice and suspicion. Such negativity corrodes the harmony among people and undermines the delicate balance that sustains inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations.

12. The land upon which we stand holds within it all the components of difference - religion, ethnicities, culture and language - which could easily become a stage for conflict. Praise be to Allah that this land has been blessed with leaders and citizens who have chosen not to enact such a theatre of discord. Through the wisdom of past leaders, these diverse elements were united and bound together to form Malaysia - independent and sovereign, peaceful and calm, tranquil and prosperous. The spirit of consensus and unity forged by those leaders at the nation’s founding must continue to be respected. Any voice, demand or action contrary to this spirit must be firmly opposed to preserve the sovereignty, peace, harmony and prosperity of our independent nation.

13. For the continuity of our nation-state, use the intellect granted by Allah with wisdom. Actions driven by emotion alone bring great loss. Much remains to be done to uplift the lives of those living in poverty. The people must never be made victims of endless political strife when the nation needs its energy and resources channelled towards more productive endeavours.

14. We deeply value the consensus and cooperation extended by Raja Muda, Raja Di Hilir, Raja Bergelar, Heirs to the Throne, Members of the Royal Family, Chieftains, and Members of the Dewan Negara, which has enabled Us to fulfil the sacred trust as the Commander of the Faithful (Amirulmukminin). We also express appreciation to the Menteri Besar, Members of the State Executive Council, the Judiciary, Members of the State Assembly, the ulama and umara, the Armed Forces, the Royal Malaysia Police, uniformed bodies, village heads, imams, religious leaders, and Village Development and Security Committees - all who have carried out their entrusted duties in fostering peace and progress in the State. We likewise convey appreciation to the private sector, voluntary and charitable bodies, youth and sports organisations, and to the citizens at large who have complemented the development efforts initiated by Our Government.

15. Hold firmly and have faith in divine mercy in doing what is right, and in divine protection when combating wrongdoing. Strengthen your faith that this nation may stand united and resilient - peaceful, prosperous and blessed - a country that receives divine forgiveness, a good land with a Most Forgiving Lord (Baldatun Tayyibatun wa Rabbun Ghafur), as depicted in the Qur’an, Surah Saba, verse 15.

16. O Forgiving One, O Gentle One, O Self-Subsisting One, O Source of Peace - YOUR servant seeks YOUR grace: bestow wisdom, grant guidance and shower divine inspiration to fulfil the sacred trust, to govern with justice and fairness, to uphold what is right and to steadfastly prevent what is wrong. May the State of Perak Darul Ridzuan ever remain under YOUR divine protection; may YOUR servant and all the people be blessed with safety in this world and goodness in the hereafter.

And with Allah’s guidance and direction, Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.

-- BERNAMA