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©Bernama
(Used by permission)
IPOH, June 24 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, today
reminded the people not to test or challenge religious issues to the extent of
creating uneasiness among society.
The Sultan said as religious issues could be highly sensitive and raise
emotions, challenging them could threaten public order and lead to civil strife.
"Islam enjoins its followers to respect the other religions and not to make
enemies with non-Muslims for as long as the sanctity of Islam is not denigrated,
Islam is not disparaged and the rights of Muslims are not violated," he said
when opening the state assembly sitting here today.
Sultan Azlan also reminded Perak assemblymen to protect the dignity of the House
through good words, decorum and sense of dressing that showed respect for
customs and traditions that reflected our fine culture and civilisation.
He said Islam was given special recognition in the Federal Constitution and had
special and long ties with the people of this land.
"Islam is also the main pillar in shaping the thinking and culture of the
Malays, so much so Islam and the Malays are synonymous and they cannot be
separated.
"Islam is accepted and recognised as the official religion of this country, and
given a special place and protection when the independence agreement was drawn
up," he said.
Sultan Azlan Shah also said that the state government and the people must
quickly make adjustments by spending prudently and wisely as the oil price
crisis was a global phenomenon and not just affecting Malaysia.
He said as this was a world crisis, no one party should be blamed and that no
one party could overcome the problem alone.
"In facing this crisis, the leaders must be united and find a common ground in
reducing the people's burden. Cooperation among the various quarters -- federal
government, state governments, local governments, private sector, trade
associations and the people is much needed so that the country and people do not
suffer."
Sultan Azlan Shah also reminded the state government to ensure that all economic
activities, whether expansion or new ones, must provide employment opportunities
to the locals.
"This should be one of the prerequisites when approving investments for
expansion or new economic projects," he said.
The Sultan said the current high price of tin should help revive the tin-mining
industry and draw the interest of investors once again.
However, he said, the state government should not act in haste but to carefully
and thoroughly study and evaluate the potential of the tin-mining industry so as
to bring long-term benefits to the state and people.
Sultan Azlan Shah said the state government would not compromise on
environmental aspects and would ensure that rehabilitation of former mining land
would be implemented with close monitoring.
The Sultan said past experience and mistakes should serve as important lessons
for the state because after the mines had been mined out, Perak was left with
tracts of land that were no longer fertile and suitable for agriculture.
He also hoped that the new state government formed after being voted in by the
people would fulfill all its development promises.
"The (election) campaign was over and the political diatribe should cease.
Managing a government requires a different approach from that used in running an
election campaign," the Sultan told the coalition state government comprising
the DAP, PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
In the March 8 general election, DAP won 18 state seats, PAS six and PKR seven,
while Barisan Nasional won 28.
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Circular No 304/2008
