ADDRESS
BY
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
SULTAN NAZRIN MUIZZUDDIN SHAH
AT THE
OPENING CEREMONY OF
GLOBAL PUBLIC RELATIONS
CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL MALAYSIA 2025
DATE: THURSDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2025
TIME: 9:15 AM
VENUE: WORLD TRADE CENTRE, KUALA LUMPUR.
Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
1. It gives me great pleasure to be here at the Global Public Relations Conference and Festival (GPRCF) Malaysia 2025. This is a proud milestone for Malaysia, as it is the nation’s first homegrown yet truly international platform dedicated to advancing public relations and communications.
2. This gathering reflects Malaysia’s growing role as a thought leader in the global conversation on ethics, technology and trust, in the digital age. It highlights how far we have come, not only in mastering the tools of communication, but also in understanding their true purpose: to connect people, to build confidence, and to foster harmony in a complex world.
3. In less than two years since its founding, the Public Relations Practitioners Society of Malaysia, or PRactitioners, has grown from an idea amongst peers into a thriving network. Today, it brings together more than five hundred members from corporations, agencies, academia, government, and civil society.
4. I commend PRactitioners for fostering collaboration with established associations such as IPRM, PRCA and CIPR; for extending its partnerships to industry bodies such as MIM and HRD Corp; and for building strong alliances with Malaysia’s media institutions. Such inclusivity reflects foresight and maturity. It recognises that communication is not merely a profession, but a bridge between institutions and communities—one that helps to strengthen transparency, understanding and trust.
5. These values, championed by Malaysia’s PR practitioners, are deeply reflected in the experiences of my own home state. Perak’s journey reminds us that leadership is a function of both authority and stewardship. The state’s historical evolution, from its early days of enterprise and migration, to its ceaseless pursuit of education, innovation and sustainability, mirrors Malaysia’s broader story of transformation.
6. GPRCF Malaysia thus provides a very useful platform for Perak and Malaysia as a whole to learn from global best practices, foster collaborations, and further enhance our communication capacity in the digital age.
7. From such experiences, we learn that communication, rooted in integrity and knowledge, is the foundation upon which societies adapt, endure and prosper. It is through honest storytelling, grounded in evidence and guided by conscience, that communities can preserve their authentic identities while also embracing progress. The lessons drawn from Perak’s evolution serve as a reminder that ethical communication, empathy and collaboration are not just abstract ideals, but daily practices that sustain our shared national journey.
Ladies and gentlemen,
8. As a monarch, I am ever mindful that words carry immense weight. The civility of our national discourse reflects the civility of our nation itself. Communication that enlightens rather than inflames is part of what sustains the dignity of our institutions and the unity of our people.
9. It is therefore the duty of communicators – whether in government, business or the media – to safeguard truth, civility and accuracy. Harsh or divisive speech erodes trust and cohesion; those who communicate publicly must therefore choose their words with wisdom and conscience – for the integrity of our language is the very foundation of public trust and national stability.
10. So as we advance in this digital era, we must also nurture the human values that underpin effective communication. Malaysia’s strength lies in its diversity, and in a multi-ethnic, multi-faith society, our words must connect rather than divide. As the Malay saying goes, kata-kata itu senjata bangsa, or words are the weapon of a people.
11. In a recent address, I reminded Malaysians that harsh or slanderous language erodes trust. So again, I must emphasise that those who publicly communicate must do so with great care.
12. And this principle extends beyond our borders. As Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship of 2025 draws to a close, we call for our region to strive to listen before reacting, and to value cooperation over confrontation. Communicators across ASEAN must also help to bridge our various divides; translating policy into understanding; and amplifying this shared vision of unity.
13. The principle of collaboration reminds us that progress cannot be achieved in isolation – for the most enduring influence is the one shared for the common good. Such principles form the pillars that uphold not only the PR profession, but beyond that, the moral fabric of our nation.
14. As was pithily said by presidential speechwriter and author, James C. Humes: “The art of communication is the language of leadership.” A useful reminder that leadership and communication are indivisible.
Ladies and gentlemen,
15. Across the world, artificial intelligence is transforming how information is created, shared and trusted. While these technologies open vast opportunities, they also challenge our grasp of the truth.
16. It is therefore the responsibility of communicators such as journalists, strategists, educators, and leaders alike, to humanise technology. To ensure that innovation never replaces empathy, and that speed never supersedes sincerity. We must remain ever-vigilant.
17. And in an age where misinformation spreads faster than understanding, we must meet these challenges not with hostility, but with wisdom, and with a steadfast commitment to the truth and to peaceful engagement.
18. GPRCF Malaysia 2025 brings together delegates and speakers from Malaysia, from across ASEAN, and beyond — all united by a shared commitment to learn, collaborate, and elevate the practice of public relations. Over these three days, I hope you will exchange not only knowledge, but wisdom; not only technology, but trust. Let this platform help to strengthen camaraderie among practitioners, educators, and policymakers, and to reinforce Malaysia’s voice in the global communications community.
19. While it may be our intelligence that drives innovation, it is our humanity that gives communication its heart. And so, finally, I hope this gathering marks the start of a new chapter in Malaysia’s story, one in which communication continues to serve truth, harmony, and the greater good, but now at the international level.
20. It is with great pleasure that I officially declare open the Global Public Relations Conference and Festival Malaysia 2025.