Sultan of Pahang stresses citizenship is a pledge of loyalty, not a commodity, urging firmness to protect national sovereignty and public trust.
KUANTAN: The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, has expressed deep concern over the granting of permanent resident status and citizenship.
His Royal Highness stressed the matter extends far beyond mere administrative procedure.
“Citizenship is not merely a document or legal recognition,” the Sultan said at the Royal Youth Discourse Programme 2026.
“It is a pledge of loyalty, an oath of allegiance to the King and the homeland.”
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He stated it should never be treated lightly or handled carelessly, touching on trust, integrity, justice and national dignity.
The Sultan warned that firmness in this matter is a bulwark of national sovereignty, not tyranny.
He cautioned that opening the door without fair and rigorous screening would erode public trust and diminish the nation’s dignity.
Al-Sultan Abdullah asserted that national sovereignty must never be compromised for investment, political pressure or short-term gains.
“The dignity of the nation is not for sale and sovereignty is not something that can be mortgaged,” he said.
Addressing youth, he called for responsible voicing of views and criticism grounded in wisdom, order and facts.
“If you seek change, change with knowledge and moral values, not with anger and insults,” the Sultan advised.
He emphasised that loyalty to the King and country is the foundation of national stability.
The discourse gathered 500 participants including youth leaders, university students and development stakeholders.
It is a strategic initiative to strengthen literacy on nationhood and the constitutional monarchy’s role. – Bernama
