The world is getting poorer, without cultural diversity – Sultan Nazrin
IPOH: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah expressed his sadness and anger at the current situation that shows the concepts of ‘multicultural’, ‘diversity,’ and ‘tolerance’ being used as ‘weapons’ in the cultural war of political discourse at the international level.
His Majesty said, without cultural diversity, the world will become poorer and people around the world will increasingly refuse to share human values.
Sultan Nazrin said this change in attitude towards cultural diversity is a tragedy because it sows the seeds of division leading to the expulsion of citizens and the refugee crisis.
“It is a tragedy because it sows the seeds of division within a country, which is likely to culminate into a more severe conflict, leading to the expulsion of citizens and the refugee crisis I mentioned earlier.
“At the same time it is a tragedy because we are the ones who will lose when we reject and deny cultural diversity. Without cultural diversity, our world becomes poorer.
“With the existence of various origins, various beliefs, and ethnic diversity, there are so many things that benefit us and so many that ‘we know each other’ as recommended by the Al-Quran,” said Sultan Nazrin.
His Majesty said this while delivering the opening keynote address of the 6th World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilization (WCIT) at the Meru Raya Convention Center, here on Tuesday.
Also leaving is the King of Lower Perak, King Iskandar Dzulkarnain Idris Shah.
Also present were the Menteri Besar of Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and USAS Vice Chancellor, Professor Tan Sri Nordin Kardi.
WCIT organized by Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) raised ‘Sharing Our Human Values’ as the theme.
At the same time, Sultan Nazrin said the reality of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was described as something sad and needed quick action.
His Majesty said that of the 27 million refugees around the world at the moment, more than 10 million of them come from Muslim countries, which represents one third of the total number of refugees worldwide.
“The presence of so many wasted people in our world right now, in fact, the existence of 13 million child refugees, for example, certainly shows the failure of humanity on an international scale.
“We, the whole world in general and Muslims in particular need to work harder to show and even share humanity, with the desire to provide a home and hope for those who unfortunately have lost both,” said the Sultan of Perak.
After the last time it was held in 2018, WCIT 2022 this time will also feature several domestic and foreign thinkers.
Among them are the Chairman of the Malaysian Competition Commission, Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Md Yunus; Chargee d’affaires of the French Embassy in Malaysia, Virginie Bioteau; Chargee d’affaires of the European Union Delegation to Malaysia, Timo Goosmann and Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno.
source – Amirrul Rabbani
