THE Crown Prince of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, has issued a strong warning against any attempts to disrupt harmony in the state through the manipulation of race, religion and royal institution issues, stressing that such conduct will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Pahang State Legislative Assembly on Friday, the Crown Prince said so-called “3R issues” posed a serious threat to social cohesion and must be decisively curbed.
“I want these 3R issues to stop. Everyone, regardless of background, must act responsibly and uphold the values of respect, tolerance and the rule of law,” he said.
Tengku Hassanal stressed that deliberate attempts to incite hostility between communities or religious groups were wholly unacceptable, warning that emotionally driven behaviour could destabilise peace and unity within the state.
“No one is above the law when dealing with matters that can threaten the peace and stability of the state,” he added.
He also reminded that matters relating to the construction of places of worship, whether on public or private land, must strictly adhere to legal requirements in order to preserve intercommunal harmony.
“People’s harmony must be preserved and must not become a cause of any conflict between races and religions,” he said, underscoring that public harmony must never be compromised by religious or racial tensions.
With national elections drawing closer, the Crown Prince urged political actors to exercise restraint and avoid exploiting divisive issues for political advantage, calling instead for greater maturity in political engagement.
He said opposition lawmakers should function constructively as a check-and-balance mechanism, while the government must ensure no group is left behind in the delivery of welfare and development.
In a pointed reminder to elected representatives, Tengku Hassanal criticised those who only become active during election periods and urged continuous engagement with public agencies to resolve grassroots issues.
“Do not only show your face when elections are near,” he said.
“Be diligent in going to government departments and local authorities to ensure the people’s problems are resolved quickly, efficiently and effectively.”
He expressed concern that even minor local issues were being escalated unnecessarily to the palace.
“Do not let issues such as clogged school drains, stray dogs, collapsed embankments or tree-cutting end up on my desk. Resolve them immediately,” he said.
“If necessary, go repeatedly to departments and agencies because all of you are representatives chosen by the people. Work hard. Do not wait until the final year before elections to suddenly appear and pretend to act.”
On economic matters, the Crown Prince expressed disappointment with the Federal Government’s decision not to approve Pahang’s efforts to expand its revenue streams through river sand exports, despite the state’s extensive river network being the longest in Peninsular Malaysia.
He said dredging and managing sand deposits was essential not only for revenue generation but also for improving river flow and reducing flood risks.
“Previously, Pahang was able to increase state revenue by tens of millions of ringgit through sand exports to other countries, but this is no longer permitted by the Federal Government, even though land and sand revenue are state rights,” he said.
Tengku Hassanal urged Putrajaya to revisit its approach and grant greater autonomy to state governments in implementing development projects, while also calling for priority to be given to qualified contractors and firms originating from Pahang.
“It is true that contractors may be appointed from anywhere in Malaysia, but I want priority to be given to companies from Pahang that are proven to be qualified and competent,” he said.
“The Federal Government should review this matter carefully; the rights of the state of Pahang ought to be returned to Pahang. Let us not reach a point where the state of Pahang is compelled to take action against the Federal Government,” he warned.
On tourism development, the Crown Prince urged state agencies to intensify preparations for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, calling for diversification beyond flagship destinations such as Genting Highlands and Cameron Highlands.
“Do not rely only on Genting Highlands and Cameron Highlands,” he said.
“We have many attractive destinations. I want the Tourism EXCO, Tourism Pahang and all related parties to be proactive.”
He specifically highlighted Cherating, once a globally recognised beach destination, questioning its apparent decline in prominence.
“Look at Cherating — what needs to be done? In the past, Cherating was one of the world’s attractions. Why does it now seem forgotten? Therefore, do your work and double your efforts,” he said. - May 8, 2026
