IPOH: Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Shah's passion for knowledge is highly praised by Malaysians.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) vice-chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff, regards Sultan Nazrin Shah as a 'branding' for knowledge based on his educational background.
"His Royal Highness is highly regarded as a learned Ruler, not only at UPSI, but also by educationists all over Malaysia, who are very proud of Sultan Nazrin Shah.
"The Sultan is not only highly educated, but is always concerned about knowledge. Sultan Nazrin Shah is also an honorary fellow at several educational institutions, not only in the country, but also famous universities abroad such as Oxford," he told Bernama.
Sultan Nazrin Shah is also a Ruler who is concerned with the governance of the state and always prioritises the mission of empowering the ummah in Perak.
His Royal Highness also emphasises environmental sustainability, a topic which he often touched on in his speeches.
Sultan Nazrin Shah's concern for the environment is evident with the appointment, for the first time, of the Perak Department of Environment (DoE) director as a member of the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk).
His Royal Highness also appointed directors of several other agencies in Perak including the State Education Department, State Agriculture Department, State Youth and Sports Department and the Perak Foundation to help MAIPk empower the ummah.
"We can see that in the speeches by Sultan Nazrin Shah, His Royal Highness touches on various issues concisely and critically, but in a professional manner without favouring any party.
"The Sultan is also very clear about other issues, not just on Islam, but also about food security, the welfare of youth, workers and the poor, as well as various other issues that involve the interests of the people," he said.
On October 27 last year, the Conference of Rulers once again appointed Sultan Nazrin Shah as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong for five years starting from today (January 31).
Sultan Nazrin Shah's appointment as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong is for the third time.
The second was on January 24, 2019, for a period that began on January 31, 2019, last year.
His Royal Highness was also appointed as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2016 when the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V was the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chancellor (Administration and Finance), Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS), Associate Professor Dr Anas Md Yusof, said the appointment of Sultan Nazrin Shah, who is also USAS Chancellor, as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong will have a huge impact on the university.
"Sultan Nazrin Shah is a Sultan who attaches great importance to the value of knowledge, and His Royal Highness is an example himself, furthering his studies up to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) level.
Sultan Nazrin Shah, in his speeches, always emphasises on the importance of education," he said.
With Sultan Nazrin Shah as USAS Chancellor, Anas said, the university has grown rapidly as a Perak state government-owned educational institution that offers study programmes from Diploma up to doctorate level.
According to him, USAS is also famous for its 'World Conference of Islamic Thought' (WCIT) programme which brings together Islamic thinkers from all over the world in Perak to discuss the development and progress of the Muslim community.
"The appointment of His Royal Highness as Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong provides more opportunities for USAS to become an important player in the education industry in the national and international arena," said Anas. – Bernama