Cohesion is cure for fractured world, says Sultan Nazrin at Singapore event
SINGAPORE: Efforts to realise a future cohesive society are entrenched in four guiding principles - rebuilding trust, prioritising equity, embracing pluralism and bold imaginations, says Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
In his keynote address at the International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) 2025, Sultan Nazrin, who is also the Perak Ruler, said these guiding principles are important in navigating uncharted challenges in the world today, which is described by a 2022 United Nations Human Development Report as an "uncertainty complex" or "confluence of destabilising global pressures, sweeping social transformations and deepening political polarisation."
"We (the global population) are being tested not by a single crisis, but by an overwhelming, sometimes frightening, interplay of conditions – whipping up into a perfect storm".
In explaining the guidelines, Sultan Nazrin said in rebuilding trust, there is a need to reinvest in social contract.
"We need transparent institutions, accountable leadership, and civic spaces where people feel seen and heard.
"Rebuilding trust means investing in media literacy, digital integrity, and honest communication – not just control."
In terms of prioritising equity, Sultan Nazrin pointed out that social, economic and ecological justice must be at the heart of policy.
"We must expand our understanding of equity to include not only disparities among people, but also the imbalances between people and the planet. A just and resilient future means closing human gaps and healing our relationship with the planet."
Sultan Nazrin also stressed on the importance of embracing pluralism, in which he believed social cohesion does not demand uniformity; it requires the respectful accommodation of diverse culture, religion, identity and origin, as well as social and political perspectives.
"It is about recognising human dignity and opportunity in accepting differences, reframing migration and rejecting fear-based politics. Trust in our shared humanity is fundamental. Compassion and love for your neighbour is a value taught by every major religion and philosophy, as represented here in our conference.
"And in our connected world it has never been easier to see people on the other side of the world as our neighbours too."
Sultan Nazrin encouraged the audience to think creatively to enhance the vision for cohesion, achievable through education.
"Resilience is about more than survival – it is about vision. Education must equip people to think critically and act ethically. Cities must be designed for inclusion. And policy must be guided by moral imagination."
Sultan Nazrin expressed confidence that the answer to resolving uncertainty is not withdrawal.
"Navigating these uncharted waters demands resilience and reinvention, but most importantly it will take collaboration and collective courage."
The ICCS this year focuses on the theme "Cohesive Societies, Resilient Futures," which outlines conversations on multiculturalism and foundations of harmony in diversity.
Earlier, Sultan Nazrin said there are three complex interlocking factors that fuel uncertainty and challenge social cohesion namely digital transformation, dynamics of human migration and uneven economic impacts of globalisation.
He said although digitalisation has brought knowledge to our fingertips and amplified voices, it has also highlighted the paradoxes within digital societies.
"The very technologies that promise inclusion can entrench exclusion. Our information ecosystems have become battlegrounds. Algorithms have the unfortunate habit of trapping us in digital echo chambers – feeding prejudice and starving nuance. This results in fragmentation, a kind of online tribalism. Information, while accessible, is becoming decentralised."
On migration, Sultan Nazrin said according to the United Nations, as of last year, the global number of international migrants had almost doubled compared with 1990 – from 154 million to 304 million.
"So, what can we do as a global community? We must work together to find homes for those who have lost theirs, and try to help alleviate the strain on countries that are overwhelmed. We must be welcoming to those we can accommodate."
Sultan Nazrin pointed out that both international institutions and national governments have failed to adequately address deep, spatial inequalities within countries.
"They have often been slow to set up mechanisms to compensate losers, or put in place social protection systems to prevent or alleviate poverty. The upshot has been a push back on globalisation at national policy level, driven by the growing antipathy to it by those left behind."
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