Raja Nazrin: Mankind fails at community building

Mankind is failing badly at creating a sense of community and is instead allowing race, culture and religion to dominate discourse, Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said today.

"When we think of social fragmentation as good rather than bad, something is awfully wrong. Our moral gyroscopes have gone completely awry. If we continue on the present path, great dangers lie ahead," he said in his speech at the Diversity Matters Forum on Diasporas in the Commonwealth held at Monash University, Sunway Campus here.

Raja Nazrin cautioned against falling into a "new and destructive form of modern day tribalism".
"Cultures can co-operate as much as clash. We need to reclaim religion from those who would distort its truths. We must reject radicalism and extremism of all types. If there is someone in my society who is hungry, or unemployed or sick and cannot afford treatment, then it diminishes me even if he is of a different race or religion," he said.

Raja Nazrin said multicultural societies are fast becoming the rule rather than the exception.
"Contrary to the rhetoric, however, it is not becoming a source of strength. Mankind is failing - and failing badly – at creating a sense of community. Instead race, culture and religion have become the dominant discourse."

Raja Nazrin said diversity is not only something to be cherished but is essential.

"I know this as an educationist for the store of knowledge does not increase until and unless there are differences in thinking. It is when there is stultifying uniformity that stagnation occurs.

"I know this as a Muslim for Islam recognises other religions. Islam itself is built on a history of myriad traditions.

"I know this as a Malaysian for what has built this country and made it strong are the contributions of its different communities. Malaysians of different races and religions have come together to put their shoulders to the collective plough despite their differences, something that many countries have not been so fortunate enough to share."

He said the idea behind multiculturalism is that countries with people of different cultural backgrounds should allow them to live a free life without being forced to do things they don't want to do.

"What characterises democratic life is that it is the person who decides whether he or she wants to adjust more and be absorbed or remain aloof. At the same time, the need to forge a community of people with shared values and interests remains paramount," he said.

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Full text here: Full text of speech by Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah

STOP QUARRELLING, FOCUS ON NATION BUILDING, RAJA NAZRIN TELLS LEADERS

IPOH, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, today called on the country's leaders to stop quarrelling among themselves and instead to focus on developing the nation's resources for the well-being of the people.

He said the world was now facing a gloomy economic climate with the prices of fuel and food at unprecedented levels.

"All efforts must be focused on easing the burden of the people. The country's productivity must be raised, investors must be given confidence, new jobs must be created and essential items must be assured.

"This is a big challenge for any government. It will not be achieved through political rhetoric alone. It will not be achieved if the leaders, both within and outside the government, continue to quarrel," he said at the 162nd Conference of the Perak Islamic Religious and Maly Customs Council here today.

Raja Dr Nazrin said the country's leaders, both within and outside the government, must see the grim economic situation in the world as a challenge facing the country and people which needed their concerted thinking and efforts to do productive work.

Raja dan Pemimpin

IPOH, 2 Mei (Bernama) -- Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Shah menitahkan Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin supaya menarik balik serta merta arahan pertukaran Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Perak (JAIP) Datuk Jamry Sury yang dibuat Selasa lepas.

Arahan supaya menarik balik arahan pertukaran itu terkandung dalam kenyataan akhbar tiga muka surat yang dikeluarkan atas titah Raja Muda Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah selepas Mohammad Nizar dititah untuk menghadap baginda di Istana Raja Muda Perak pada pukul 11 pagi ini untuk menyembah maklum kepada baginda berhubung arahan pertukaran Jamry.... (boleh baca selebihnya di sini, serta komen2)


BERITADARIGUNUNG:
Suatu masa dulu rakyat dan pemimpin adalah penyelamat tanah air, kini ketika kemelut kepimpinan memuncak, raja pula mencemar duli menyelamat tanah air dan rakyat jelata

NAZRIN; on leaders and empires.

Photo:STR/AFP/Getty Images
Kuala Kangsar, MALAYSIA: Royal bride Zara Salim Davidson (R) places a wedding band on Perak state crown prince Raja Nazrin Shah (L) during an exchange of wedding rings at their wedding ceremony in Kuala Kangsar, Perak state, 17 May 2007. The wedding ceremony of Perak crown prince Raja Nazrin Shah, 50, with Zara Salim Davidson, 34, was held in traditional Perak royal custom while witnessed by 300 guests.



As in Kuda kepang ~ Ruhanie ahmad

Berita dari gunung said...

Raja Nazrin mengingatkan perkara-perkara asas tentang kepimpinan dan kenegaraan.

Dalam kemelut politik negara hari ini, peringatan itu kena pada masanya. Bukan pemimpin saja yang perlu ambil perhatian, rakyat jelata pun sama.

Rakyat masih ada tanggungjawab mengingatkan barisan kepimpinan dari masa kemasa mengikut saluran yang diizinkan. Selain pilihanraya, ada lagi ruang-ruang yang boleh digunakan.

Pemimpin yang sensitif akan beri perhatian kepada peringatan dari Raja dan juga rakyat jelata.

1:14 PM