Muslims must arm themselves with knowledge to break free of the shackles of ignorance, backwardness, weakness and poverty, Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin said today.

"Knowledge will bring us change, success and progress. Knowledge will also bring us comfort, spiritual and physical well-being," he said during celebrations to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad.

"It is a great loss and a pity if we, as followers of the Prophet Mohammad, fail to reflect on his edicts and legacy in life in this century which very much requires his people to... compete to build progress and civilisation," he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

The government of mainly Muslim Malaysia promotes a moderate version of Islam which emphasises economic and scientific progress. It is also aiming to become the world's first developed Muslim nation by 2020.

"Equipped with this asset, I'm confident that by 2020 Malaysia will be able to come out as a balanced developing country with its people having towering personalities and tightly holding on to the religion. And this will make Malaysia a world-class developed Islamic country that can be emulated by the international community," said the king.

Malaysia's king has largely ceremonial duties and acts on the advice of the cabinet. But he is the Islamic leader in a number of Malaysian states and also heads the military under the constitution.