Kuantan: The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, today expressed concern over the issue of granting permanent resident (PR) status and citizenship, stressing that the matter goes far beyond administrative procedures. His Royal Highness emphasized that citizenship involves trust, integrity, justice, and the dignity of a sovereign nation, and should not be treated lightly.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Sultan highlighted that citizenship is not merely a document or legal recognition; it represents a pledge of loyalty and an oath of allegiance to the King and the homeland. He stated that it is not a reward to be bought or sold, a gift of power, or an easy entry into the nation. Instead, it is a symbol of the highest trust bestowed by the country upon an individual. He urged those responsible for granting citizenship to maintain firmness, which he described as a bulwark of national sovereignty, warning that careless handling could erode public trust and diminish the nation's dignity.
Al-Sultan Abdullah delivered these remarks at the Royal Youth Discourse Programme 2026, attended by his son, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Mordi Anak Bimol, Pahang Communications and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal, and Malaysian Youth Council president Mohd Izzat Afifi Abdul Hamid. The Sultan further emphasized that national sovereignty must not be compromised for investment, political pressure, or short-term gains, asserting that the nation's dignity is not for sale and sovereignty cannot be mortgaged.
He also called on youths to express their views responsibly, offering criticism with wisdom, order, and factual grounding. The Sultan advised that change should be pursued with knowledge and moral values, rather than anger and insults, underscoring that loyalty to the King and country is the foundation of national stability. The discourse, which included 500 participants such as leaders of youth organizations and students, aimed to enhance understanding of nationhood among the youth and emphasize the role of the Constitutional Monarchy in maintaining national stability and sovereignty.