KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 13 — Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysia’s youth to take the lead in restoring integrity, justice and human values as the nation navigates rapid technological change and economic transformation.
Speaking during the In Conversation with Prime Minister session at the International Young Future Leaders Summit (iFUTURE 2025), Anwar said the future of the country lies in the hands of the young generation who must balance intellect with conscience, and ambition with compassion.
“The future is for you to decide, whether you choose the path of moral decay and dehumanization, or the path of truth, justice and freedom. I trust you to be champions of justice and freedom,” he said.
AI must serve humanity
Commenting on Malaysia’s direction in artificial intelligence (AI), the Prime Minister emphasized that the government’s AI roadmap must be anchored in both technological access and cultural identity.
“We must ensure access and connectivity for all, especially in rural areas. That will determine the success of our AI strategy,” he said.
“At the same time, we must preserve our own values, culture and religious beliefs. AI must serve humanity from a human perspective, not merely from a Western perspective.”
Budget 2026: Breaking monopolies, strengthening education
On questions regarding youth-focused provisions under Budget 2026, Anwar said national priorities must be framed with an understanding of macroeconomic realities and governance principles.
He highlighted that corruption, smuggling and monopolies continue to drain national resources, and must be eradicated to allow fairer wealth distribution.
“Leadership must be clean. Stop corruption. Stop smuggling. Stop syndicates,” he stressed.
“If we recover the billions lost to corruption, we can reinvest in education and the future of our youth, without the need for new taxes. Over the last two years alone, we recovered RM15.5 billion.”
The Prime Minister said such efforts have enabled the government to begin implementing free education for the poorest families, effective next year, up to university level.
“Education should be free. And one day, PTPTN can evolve into a scholarship system. This is how we build an equitable future,” he said.
He added that Malaysia currently faces a shortage of 30,000 engineers, and therefore Budget 2026 gives strong emphasis to upskilling, reskilling and TVET programmes, as well as emerging fields such as AI, accountancy, law, and language proficiency.
Defending humanity and standing with Palestine
When asked about Malaysia’s unwavering stance on Palestine, Anwar said the issue transcends politics, it is a matter of human dignity and moral conscience.
“Why the silence on Palestine?” he questioned.
“Many countries speak of freedom and human rights, yet remain silent when Palestinians are oppressed. That is hypocrisy, and Malaysia will not be complicit.”
He noted that initiatives such as the Global Sumud Flotilla reflect Malaysia’s moral stand and its commitment to humanity.
“I appreciate the sentiment shown by our young leaders. This is a seed of awareness planted within you. If you lose empathy and ignore injustice, that is the beginning of dehumanization,” he said.
Anwar reminded participants that the MADANI framework is rooted in trust, respect and human values, principles that must continue to guide Malaysia’s progress.
Wisdom through humility
In his closing remarks, the Prime Minister urged students to pursue knowledge not merely to pass examinations, but to seek understanding and personal growth.
“As Sayyidina Ali Abi Talib taught us, there is Lazzatul Ma‘rifah (the joy of learning). True wisdom begins with humility. When you are humble, you listen, you reflect, and you grow,” he said.
He reminded youth to possess tenacity of purpose, knowing why they strive for success and how they can serve others through it.
“Be great professionals, but remember, greatness is not measured by wealth or title, but by your ability to serve humanity with compassion, courage and conscience,” he concluded.
Distinguished guests who attended the ceremony included the Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir; Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud; Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Datuk Dr. Anesee Ibrahim; Director General of Higher Education, Datuk Prof. Dr. Azlinda Azman; Chairman of the UTM Board of Directors, Tan Sri Azman Hj. Mokhtar and Vice-Chancellor of UTM, Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim.
Source: UTM NewsHub