Pahang Ruler warns youths against hate speech, social ills

Pahang's ruler has cautioned young people against engaging in hate speech and social vices, urging them to utilize their education to cultivate sound judgment rather than merely acquiring academic qualifications. Sultan Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah expressed apprehension over a prevailing culture of disrespect and animosity among some youth, emphasizing the importance of maintaining decorum when debating sensitive subjects like religion and institutions.

"Be bold in your speech, but always polite; feel free to disagree, but never abandon your sense of judgment," he advised at the inauguration ceremony for Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah's (UMPSA) Chancellor Hall in Pekan, Malaysia.

The ruler lamented social challenges faced by young individuals, including drug addiction, bullying, digital gambling, and improper interpersonal conduct. He cautioned against prioritizing the pursuit of academic degrees over the actual purpose of learning. The Sultan warned against relying on artificial intelligence (AI) as a means to bypass critical thinking, independent research, and innovation. Instead, AI should be employed to enhance students' cognitive abilities and problem-solving skills.

Addressing the University's role, the Sultan challenged UMPSA to forge stronger alliances with the state government, businesses, foundations, and alumni to amplify educational aid, research initiatives, and local talent cultivation. He stressed that the university's expertise in technology, manufacturing, automotive, logistics, and modern agriculture should translate into practical benefits for the community.

"We must not produce a generation abundant in credentials but lacking in knowledge, eloquent in speech but bereft of thought," the Sultan concluded.