Forward-thinking Vital to Facing Global Challenges: Regent of Perak

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Countries must instil a culture of forward-thinking in their society to ensure they were constantly on the alert in facing global challenges, said Regent of the state of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah. He said the need to constantly look ahead and anticipate events was not only an integral part of good governance but also of economic and social dynamism. "If we look at countries that are dynamic, they're constantly gathering information to try to make sense of the future and act on it. Of course, there're always unexpected black swan events that will blindside countries, companies and communities. "But the culture of forward-thinking is something that ensures that countries are constantly kept on their feet and ready to act to defend and extend their national interests," he said in his speech at the 4th International Conference on International Studies organised by Universiti Utara Malaysia here Tuesday. Raja Nazrin said that forward-thinking, as well as planning and credible actions, would help break any management problems. He also cited good governance, as well as the development of collaborative and cooperative behaviour as management goals that countries should strive for. "The countries and regions that will find success are those whose societies are adaptable and cohesive, whose leaderships are able to sell their visions of transformation and align the diverse outlooks and interests of the different constituencies in their country," he said. Raja Nazrin said that within countries, the idea that some communities could be sidelined while others were promoted was a recipe for failure. A lack of inclusiveness, he said, had been a major stumbling block for many countries, and most had paid a heavy price in the form of long drawn-out conflicts. "But it should not have to take generations of bloodshed, violence, grinding poverty and lost opportunities for parties to break deadlocks, resolve conflicts and act inclusively. What we require is the concentrated focus and political will to practise inclusiveness," he added. -- BERNAMA