Daring to go against the cultural grain, author win praises from Sultan Nazrin

SHAH ALAM – While his approach in reprimanding the Malays may be deemed as culturally unorthodox, the forthrightness of Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Mohd Kamal Hassan in doing so has earned him a royal applause.

So much so that the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah regarded Mohd Kamal’s unvarnished take on the corrupt and duplicity running rampant in the current Malay politics as an invaluable insight.

The Malays, said Sultan Nazrin, - in his royal speech during the launch of Mohd Kamal’s book – have always been known for their couched languages, delivering rebukes with utmost care and gentleness to avoid offending others.

“But the writer courageously coined the words, corruption and hypocrisy and linked it with Malay politics and made it part of the book’s title.

“The author faces the risk of incurring the indignation of some within the Malay community, especially those who “feel the heat,”

“Nonetheless, the author is prepared to face those risks because of his desire for the community to be jolted, so as to be awakened from its stupor slumber and complacency,” he added.

The anathema plaguing the Malays as highlighted in Mohd Kamal’s ‘Corruption and Hypocrisy in Malay Muslim Politics – The Urgency of Moral-Ethical Transformation’ was pointed out by Sultan Nazrin as being more dangerous than Covid-19.

“Corruption has been identified as one of main factor that stagnates the economy, drives away foreign investors, increases administration costs and destabilases politics.

“Corruption also causes unsustainable development, environmental pollution, unequal wealth distribution and leakages of a nation’s resources,” added Sultan Nazrin.

Ending his speech – which was delivered at Karangkraf Mall, here, today – Sultan Nazrin lauded those who were involved in making the Mohd Kamal’s book a reality.

“This book will not achieve its true noble purpose if it is simply written, published, launched, bought and distributed.

“It needs to be disseminated with serious, continuous, and large-scale efforts, conveying the message of the danger of corruption and the importance of eliminating corruption.

“The message on the importance of entrusting responsibilities to people who are free from corruption that comes with the book also needs to be spread,” he remarked.