Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah today called on Malaysians to not be easily misled by deviant ideologies that could be destructive to the country and world civilization.
He said the conflicts which happened in various parts of the world and terrorist attacks in countries like Belgium, Turkey and France, and lately, Indonesia, worried him as the attacks not only caused destruction to property, but also claimed the lives of innocent people.
“This is the doing of terrorist groups as a result of the emergence of ideologies that are too extreme which deviate from the true teachings of Islam,” he said at an investiture in conjunction with his birthday celebration, at Istana Negara, today.
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, foreign envoys and other dignitaries.
Tuanku Abdul Halim said the investiture today would be his last in his second tenure as the di-Pertuan Agong, which ends this year.
He was also the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (1970-1975).
“What is certain is that time runs so fast. I am grateful that during my rule, I am given the opportunity by Allah SWT to see the country develop from one phase to another,” he said.
On Malaysians in general, Tuanku Abdul Halim said they had proven that their diverse race, religion and culture was not a hindrance or a problem, but a uniqueness that had built their strength.
“This is in line with my desire to see not only unity is preserved, but for it to become stronger to overcome all odds,” he added.
Malaysians, he said, should utilize their diversity to mix, know and understand each other.