HEALTHCARE PLAYS A ROLE IN UNITY - SULTAN NAZRIN

IPOH, April 15 (Bernama) -- Beyond providing healthcare and medical treatment, the health service plays an unspoken yet vital role in fostering unity, says the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah.

His Royal Highness said this role unfolds naturally, bridging the diverse backgrounds of Malaysians, who come from different ethnicities, religions, cultures, languages and social standings.

“In our hospitals, we have never heard of a doctor refusing to treat a patient because of different religion, race or economic status. Nor have we heard of patients questioning the origin of a blood to be transfused -- whether the donor is Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist or from a different social or economic status.

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“In moments of loss within a hospital ward, it is common to witness shared sorrow. Medical staff and fellow patients alike, regardless of background or how recently they met the deceased, often feel the weight of grief — some even shedding tears,” said the Perak ruler.

Sultan Nazrin said this in his royal address when opening the Third Session of the 15th Perak State Legislative Assembly at Perak Darul Ridzuan Building here today.

His Royal Highness went on to say that, often unnoticed, the hospital becomes a quiet place of reflection where patients and their families come to terms with the fragility of life and the reality that life is beyond our control.

“...when life hangs in the balance, it is in those moments of deep vulnerability that people rediscover their sense of servitude before the Almighty. They turn to prayer with renewed humility, hands lifted in surrender, seeking divine mercy for healing, for relief from suffering, or for grace upon the departing soul.

“Indeed, hospital wards can be viewed as classrooms -- profound spaces of learning for all, whether king or citizen, president or minister, imam or priest, judge or lawyer, lecturer or teacher, police officer or soldier, pilot or taxi driver, farmer or fisherman.

“These spaces teach us the meaning of divinity, the essence of servanthood, the depth of our shared humanity, and the true nature of compassion, empathy and unity. Not one imposed, but one that arises naturally from the human heart,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sultan Nazrin said that it is time to take active steps to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into public service delivery strategies to improve efficiency, accelerate processes and foster innovation.

“Embracing AI is no longer a matter of choice. It is a responsibility. It is a necessity. AI is no longer merely a tool but a transformative force reshaping our socioeconomic landscape, industries, thinking and way of life,” he said.

Sultan Nazrin said the rapid rise of Generative AI is set to redefine the nature of work across all sectors, adding that by 2030, the fastest-growing professions will likely be driven by advancements in AI, robotics and digital accessibility.

-- BERNAMA