The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, said the ideology of setting up Islamic states through militancy was spreading across the world and increasingly influencing Muslims.

The sultan said what was more worrying was that the ideology was also influencing people's thinking in this country, with reports saying a number of Malaysians getting killed (in militant activities) in certain countries.

“Several arrests and detention have been made. The arrest of those supporting and joining militant groups like Islamic State (IS) has not guaranteed that the problem has been or can be solved.”

Sultan Nazrin said this when opening the first meeting, fourth session of the 13th Perak state legislative assembly in Ipoh today.

He said a comprehensive approach needed to be implemented in tackling the problem which involved ideology and interpretations.

The sultan said the appeal or rejection factors that drove people to join such movements must be identified, understood and analysed.

“Factors like aspiration and illusion, disappointment and dream, poverty and sufferings, tyranny and oppression are reportedly among the causes for the young to join such movements,” he said.

Sultan Nazrin expressed his appreciation for the country’s security agencies in doing the best possible in maintaining public order and national security.

Meanwhile, he said the enforcement agencies should take stern action against traffic offenders as the number of road accidents in Malaysia was among the highest in the world.

The ruler said in Perak alone, 36,746 road accidents occurred throughout 2015, with 759 of these being fatal cases, while 588 victims suffered severe injuries.

“In the first three months of this year, there were 9,004 road accidents in Perak, with 180 fatalities and 199 victims seriously injured,” he said.

On the hot weather due to the El Nino phenomenon, Sultan Nazrin said a long-term plan was required to ensure adequate water supply.

“Perak had been experiencing rainfall shortage of between 20 and 60 percent in the first three months of this year and increase in temperature by between 0.5 and two degrees Celcius.

“Lack of rainfall may result in water supply shortage one day. On the average, 612 million litres of water are required daily for domestic use and 263 million litres by the industries,” the sultan said.

- Bernama