KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, today received the Royal Writer Award for his book entitled 'Striving for Inclusive Development: From Pangkor to a Modern Malaysian State'.

The award was presented by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) pro-chancellor Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Muhamad Zohadie Bardaie at the National Book Award organised by the National Book Development Foundation and UPM at the university in Serdang here.

Sultan Nazrin said his second book published by Oxford University Press in 2019 contained the findings of a study on the achievement of Malaysia's progress based on a comprehensive analysis of economic and social data over a period of 150 years, starting from the Pangkor Treaty of 1874.

"The research, study and analysis that took almost 20 years involved a very challenging work process to obtain data stored in various places, in the form of non-uniform records; followed by the process of selecting and filtering as well coordinating and standardising the information and data collected," said Sultan Nazrin.

Meanwhile, His Royal Highness said that Malaysia's diversity from the aspects of religion, culture and language is an asset that must be harmonised through the practice of inclusiveness in order to form strong nation that celebrates unity in diversity.

All parties need to realise and accept the fact that Malaysia's success over the years is the result of the efforts of every citizen who are made up of various backgrounds, races, religions and cultures, said His Royal Highness.

-- BERNAMA