Sultan Nazrin Shah Warns of Nation's Downfall Due to Corruption

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 - The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, has sounded a warning about the prevalence of corruption and mismanagement in Malaysia, likening it to cancerous cells eroding the nation's foundation.

"Corruption, mismanagement, abuse of power, and breaches of trust are akin to cancerous cells that can quickly spread and destroy our nation," he said during the first session of the 64th Universiti Malaya (UM) convocation ceremony yesterday.

The Perak Sultan emphasized the importance of anchoring administrative systems, governance, and management practices in values, principles, and trustworthiness, transcending ethnic, religious, social, and economic statuses.

"We are embarrassed by the state of corruption and mismanagement. The people are concerned, and it is our duty to address this," he said.

Besides producing a large number of graduates, Sultan Nazrin stressed that UM's responsibility goes beyond academic achievement. The university must also shape the character and build the human soul of its graduates, instilling noble values such as ethics, morality, accountability, and integrity.

The 64th convocation ceremony will feature 16 sessions until Dec 8, involving a total of 9,253 graduates who have met the academic criteria. Among them, 598 will receive Doctor of Philosophy degrees, while 3,079 will receive master's degrees and postgraduate diplomas.

UM has secured its position as one of the top universities in the world after advancing to the top 60 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2024. The university continues to excel as Malaysia's premier institution, holding 12th place in Asia.