Heed Sultan Azlan's words to avoid conflicts - Sultan Nazrin Shah

The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah has asked that the speech by his father, the late Sultan Azlan Shah, at a graduation ceremony 35 years ago regarding the basic principles of Malaysia's formation be heeded to stem sensational issues that could cause conflicts among the people.

He said on June 30, 1976, Sultan Azlan Shah, who was then the external examiner for the University of Malaya's (UM) Bachelor of Law degree, in his speech after receiving an honorary Doctorate of Literature, touched on aspects regarding the supremacy of the constitution, rule of law, and the principle of separation of powers between the Legislative, Executive and Judiciary.

Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah said his father, in his acceptance speech, spoke on the importance for the country to have a free and independent judiciary, the courts should be about justice, be friendly with the rule of law, be close with the truth and gentle with honesty.

The speech was concluded with the following reminder:

"For Malaysians to become a strong, dynamic and robust community, all the people have to unite under one flag, the Malaysian flag; under one Head of State, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"Under one language, Bahasa Malaysia; under one anthem, the Negaraku; under one culture, with the Malay culture as its basis; and under one motto, 'Unity is Stength'" said Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah during a commemoration ceremony for Sultan Azlan Shah at UM's Dewan Tunku Canselor here, today.

Also present was the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim.

Sultan Azlan Shah was appointed UM's third Chancellor by the eighth Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail, effective Feb 8, 1986.

Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah said during his father's 28-year tenure as chancellor, he delivered a speech at every convocation (from 1986 till 2011).

In all his 26 convocation speeches, Sultan Azlan Shah consistently stressed on the importance of having a holistic education approach in the university, covering aspects of religion, intellect, noble values and integrity to produce graduates who were knowledgeable, ethical, honourable, responsible, capable, and

at every moment practised honesty and sincerity, to receive God's blessings, said Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah.

"In his speech during the convocation ceremony on August 1, 1987, Sultan Azlan Shah stressed on the importance for the university to possess autonomy in academic management," he said.

While delivering his speech, Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah occasionally choked with emotion, and even broke into tears.

Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah quoted the following words by his father during the convocation ceremony on Aug 1, 1987 regarding the impotance of the university to have autonomy in academic management.

"From history, we can observe in many nations when a foreign party tried to meddle with the academic management of a university, its academic quality declined and it was difficult to recover from, not in only in the third world but in developed countries.

"I request the political leaders and other public figures in the community not to direct, influcence, or lobby university officials in academic matters."

Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah also expressed his gratitude to UM for organising the ceremony to commemorate his father.

"This ceremony is a manifestation to express the gratitude and remembrance of the people of University Malaya towards an individual who had led this university for 28 years.

"A more everlasting form of gratitude and remembrance is to appreciate all the caring words of Almarhum (Sultan Azlan Shah), and for it to be put to into practice. May all his words of advice which have inspired action, be accepted by the Almighty as acts of good deeds which will benefit the soul of Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah," said Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah.

After the speech, Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah was presented with the apparel used by his father when he was the Chancellor of UM, especially during convocation ceremonies, consisting of an academic robe, a necktie, and mortar board, by UM Vice-Chancellor, Datuk Dr Mohd Amin Jalaluddin.