HIS Royal Highness Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah has called for collective courage and cooperation in the face of rising uncertainty, urging global societies to rebuild trust, uphold equity, embrace pluralism and imagine boldly.
Delivering his keynote address at the 3rd International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) on Wednesday, His Royal Highness emphasised that these four guiding principles are essential as the world confronts complex challenges such as rapid digital transformation, increasing migration, and the uneven consequences of globalisation.
“In times of upheaval, familiar certainties can feel deceptively comforting,” said Sultan Nazrin. “There is a temptation to retreat into narrower circles of identity, to hoard privileges, and to romanticise a past that, if we are honest and strip away nostalgia, never was. But I am confident that the answer to uncertainty is not withdrawal.”
Addressing a global audience at Singapore’s Raffles City Convention Centre, the Perak ruler said rebuilding trust demands more than control over narratives — it requires investment in media literacy, digital integrity, and open, honest communication.
“We must reinvest in the social contract. We need transparent institutions, accountable leadership, and civic spaces where people feel seen and heard,” he added.
On equity, Sultan Nazrin asserted that justice — social, economic and ecological — must be placed at the heart of policy formulation.
Turning to pluralism, he said, “It is about recognising human dignity and opportunity in accepting differences, reframing migration, and rejecting fear-based politics. Trust in our shared humanity is fundamental.”
He highlighted that compassion and love for one’s neighbour are core teachings in every major religion and philosophical tradition.
As part of imagining boldly, Sultan Nazrin advocated for an education system that instils both critical thinking and ethical action, inclusive urban planning, and policymaking shaped by moral imagination.
His Royal Highness also underlined the pressing need for international cooperation in managing global migration flows, especially as crises intensify.
“We must work together to find homes for those who have lost theirs, and try to help alleviate the strain on countries that are overwhelmed. We must be welcoming to those we can accommodate, and we must strive to tackle the root causes that drive people from their homes in the first place,” he said.
He reminded attendees that migration is one of humanity’s oldest and most natural responses to adversity — a search for safety, opportunity and dignity.
At the national level, Sultan Nazrin urged governments to take stronger action in fostering inclusion and integration, warning, “The consequences of a fractured society are severe.”
According to the United Nations, the global number of international migrants reached 304 million in 2023 — nearly double the figure in 1990 — and could rise to one billion by 2050.
The ICCS, an initiative by former Singapore President Halimah Yacob, is organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and supported by Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. The event gathers international thought leaders, policymakers and youth to exchange ideas and co-create solutions for fostering resilient, multicultural societies. - June 25, 2025
