KUALA KANGSAR: A ruler protects the sovereignty of the country and must treat every citizen fairly regardless of race or religion, said Sultan Nazrin Shah.
He said a ruler acts as a backbone of stability, justice, solidarity, unity and an instrument in uniting diversity.
“The ruler should at all times not be partisan, in fact should maintain neutrality in all polemics concerning party politics, so that their role is accepted by all, as the ruler is required to act as arbitrator to reconcile any conflict,” he said at the Enthronement ceremony of the Sultan of Perak XXXV at Balairung Seri, Istana Iskandariah here yesterday.
Sultan Nazrin Shah said the strength of a nation was strongly influenced by its level of ‘charitable act’ and its determination in combating evil.
He said the supremacy of the royal institution must be protected from any desecration so that the rakyat remained loyal.
“When the rakyat are emotionally tossed, they must be reminded of past history and how due to slander and jealousy the ruler had been wrongly influenced giving rise to disputes between people of the same race and religion,” he said.
Sultan Nazrin Shah said the royal institution was not just a decorative item as the ruler was given important powers and responsibilities in the nation’s public life as defined in the Constitution.
Sultan Nazrin Shah said 10 per cent or 19 of the 183 Articles in the Federal Constitution related to the ruler as Malaysia practices parliamentary democracy with constitutional monarchy.
He said this meant the country had legislatively allocated specific roles and responsibilities to the ruler.
“As such the ruler must be vibrant, dynamic and confident in fulfilling his role as the unifying figure in a political landscape which is increasingly showing signs of disunity which is threatening the harmonious relationship of the various races and religions.
“The ceremony this morning symbolizes the image to be continued in upholding the royal institution, a continuing custom, a continuity of culture, taking place in the modern era. — Bernama