ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor Heath and Unity Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon expressed his confidence in the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia. He praised the Sultan for his firm and courageous demeanor, which he believes could significantly strengthen the unity of the people.
Ling Tian Soon believes that His Majesty, as the Supreme Head of State, could act as a pillar of national unity. This could help put a stop to racial provocations that may threaten harmony among Malaysian communities. He also mentioned that Sultan Ibrahim’s strict nature serves as a barrier against the efforts of those seeking political gains by exploiting racial, religious, and royal issues.
In the past, Sultan Ibrahim has issued warnings to those attempting to sow discord among the people of Johor. His firmness as the state Ruler acts as a deterrent to racial tensions and orders for immediate resolution of any misunderstandings, according to Ling.
Ling remained optimistic that His Majesty would be proactive in ensuring that issues related to race, religion, and the royal institution are addressed before they escalate further. He highlighted that the King frequently graces diverse festive celebrations, becoming an icon of unity for the people in the state.
One example cited by Ling was Sultan Ibrahim’s attendance at the Chingay festival, a large celebration for the Tionghua community, as well as his participation in Deepavali festivities. Ling also mentioned that Sultan Ibrahim’s decrees about unity led to the establishment of the Johor Unity Ambassador program and the Johor Harmony Committee.
The Unity Ambassador program has nurtured around 300 young representatives from public higher education institutions and youth associations in the state. They play a vital role as the state government’s spokesperson in conveying messages of unity to the public. The Harmony Committee consists of various agencies and departments, such as the Johor Islamic Religious Department and leaders from every religious group, contributing to the exchange of views and addressing religious concerns.
Ling expressed hope that Malaysia will continue to be harmonious and the people will be united in developing the nation under the leadership of Sultan Ibrahim as the new King. Sultan Ibrahim was sworn in as the 17th King of Malaysia on Jan 31 to replace Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah of Pahang, whose five-year reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong ended on Jan 30. – Bernama
