KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Selangor hopes future generations of Selangorians will be knowledgeable, compassionate, resilient, united and respectful of others.
His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said young people should strive for excellence without losing their sense of responsibility towards society.
"They should also understand that diversity is one of Malaysia's greatest strengths. Mutual respect and understanding will remain essential to our continued harmony and progress," he said in a special interview held in conjunction with his Silver Jubilee celebrations.
The Selangor ruler also advised young people to read news reports in depth before commenting, particularly on social media, rather than forming opinions based solely on headlines.
Sultan Sharafuddin said the younger generation had rightly placed importance on environmental sustainability and heritage preservation.
"Economic progress should never come at the expense of our natural environment or historical identity.
"Planning for future generations means protecting forests, rivers and green spaces while preserving our historical landmarks and cultural traditions. Development and conservation are not opposing goals; they should reinforce one another," he said.
His Royal Highness also noted that education remained the foundation of long-term progress, particularly in preparing young people for a rapidly changing world.
"Artificial intelligence may not replace all jobs, but in many instances, people who are trained in AI will replace those who are not.
"Selangor must not lose out in this area. We must be ready for this, and I hope the state government realises it," he said.
Sultan Sharafuddin also cautioned that the well-being of senior citizens must not be overlooked as Selangor moves towards becoming an ageing society.
The Sultan said healthcare services must evolve alongside demographic changes, while innovation should continue to strengthen the state's competitiveness.
His Royal Highness proposed that Selangor strive to become the first state to establish a dedicated geriatric medical centre specialising in the health, care, prevention and treatment of conditions affecting older adults.
These include age-related problems such as falls, frailty, urinary incontinence and memory decline.
"We need to prioritise the overall quality of life of the elderly, including their safety, independence and balanced medication," he added.
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