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HIS MAJESTY Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has cautioned that recent serious criminal offences involving students have cast a troubling shadow over the nation’s moral landscape, questioning the depth of character formation within homes and educational institutions.
Speaking at Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) 103rd Convocation Ceremony at the Chancellor’s Great Hall, the King, who is also the university’s Chancellor, said such incidents had “tarnished the image of the country’s educational institutions.”
He urged urgent introspection from schools and universities, calling for nothing short of an “educational revolution” centred on humanity, morality, emotional regulation and awareness of the law.
“Through this approach, we can cultivate a disciplined generation that respects one another,” His Majesty said, underscoring that the challenge is not merely academic but societal.
Tengku Permaisuri Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, who serves as UiTM pro-chancellor, also graced the ceremony.
Sultan Ibrahim reminded Malaysians that character formation begins long before formal schooling, insisting that families must reclaim their central role in shaping the young.
“Home is the first school for every individual, where children are taught values, discipline and a sense of responsibility to society from a young age,” he said, adding that moral development must be woven into daily life rather than treated as an institutional afterthought.
Turning to the digital sphere, His Majesty called on parents and educators to guide students towards responsible use of technology.
He cautioned that constant exposure to violent content could contribute to heightened aggression among teenagers.
However, he stressed that limiting access to digital platforms is not a viable solution, noting that doing so “could disrupt the digital and remote learning ecosystem.”
The convocation was attended by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and UiTM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin. A total of 32,630 graduates received diplomas and degrees across multiple disciplines.
The ceremony also saw the appointment of former Higher Education Minister Tan Sri Idris Jusoh as a UiTM pro-chancellor, further reinforcing the institution’s leadership in academic and strategic development.
UiTM conferred the title of Professor Emeritus on Dr Suhaimi Abdul Talib, honouring more than three decades of service as an academic and professional engineer in civil engineering and Malaysian higher education. - November 19, 2025