Sultan Nazrin praises nation’s inclusivity, says all citizens have a place in Malaysia

Malaysians of all races, religions and geographic locations need to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have a place under the Malaysian sun, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah said today.

(NST) – His Royal Highness said this in his royal address at the Regional Southeast Asia Human Dignity Conference 2024.

He reminded the audience that this sentiment echoes what he had expressed in his keynote address at the National Young Lawyers Committee’s 1st Young Malaysians Roundtable Discussion on National Unity and Development in Malaysia on April 3, 2007.

In his speech, Sultan Nazrin expressed pride in the country’s track record of tolerance and inclusivity since the declaration of the Rukun Negara in 1970.

He described Malaysia’s unique socio-cultural experience, adding that as many as 137 living languages were spoken and a wide range of religious festivals were celebrated “with enthusiasm and vibrancy”.

However, he said that not everyone shared this belief.

“Mistrust and intolerance are themselves a kind of pandemic, which spreads like a virus between individuals, communities and entire nations,” Sultan Nazrin lamented.

He said that events such as this conference were important to dispel hatred, ignorance and fear among different communities.

The Regional Southeast Asia Human Dignity Conference 2024, with the theme “Dignity for Everyone, Everywhere,” is being held in collaboration with the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) International Centre for Law and Religious Studies (ICLRS), Brigham Young University, and the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI).

The conference was attended by interfaith representatives from local and international communities, aiming to share best practices and success stories related to human dignity in Southeast Asia.