EDUCATION MUST EMBRACE KNOWLEDGE AND CORE HUMAN VALUES, SAYS PM ANWAR

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today emphasised that education should cultivate not only intellectual capacity but also core values such as freedom, peace and unity.

He said the real challenge for the education system was to ensure students were equipped with knowledge and information, while also possessing the ability to distinguish between right and wrong.

“When I talk about knowledge, whether it is economics or politics, for all political scientists here in the making, for technology, for science, the fundamental values of freedom, justice and human dignity must be there and that stands on values,” he said.

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The prime minister said this during the ‘Meet Anwar@IIUM: A Special Homecoming’ programme held at the Cultural Activities Centre, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Gombak Campus, here.

The programme, an open dialogue session between the Prime Minister and the campus community, particularly university students, was attended by nearly 3,000 staff and students.

Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shaari and IIUM Rector Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Osman Bakar. 

The prime minister also urged Islamic universities to play a key role in fostering genuine understanding, rather than promoting hatred.

“Islam must also be other than the solat and zakat; it is also to promote peace, justice and understanding of humanity. Not to sow the seed of discord and differences.

He said while Malaysia is a Muslim-majority nation and Islam is the religion of the Federation, it is essential to acknowledge and respect the diversity of our population, given that over 40 per cent comprise non-Muslims.

“Why do we have Rahmatan lil Alamin (blessings to all creation)?… (Not to) propagate hatred, racial, racism, fascism and discord. So you must remember, we may be an Islamic university, but here, the Islamic university is to promote the true understanding of Islam.

“Not hatred towards others, but understanding, literary appreciation and the ability to value one another,” said Anwar.

Anwar also called on Malaysians to use social media responsibly and avoid sharing content that tarnishes the country’s cultural values, particularly those of the Malays and Islam.

“You have the freedom to use social media, but what do you do? Abuse it, full of deceit, full of hatred, in the name of Islam and the Malays. I am a proud Malay, and I deeply value our cultural heritage.”

“I believe the Malays possess what I call a beautiful cultural grief… tolerance, the ability to accommodate others and to respect differences. No racism,” he said.

Meanwhile, the prime minister announced an allocation of RM5 million to IIUM for the maintenance of toilets, laboratories and student hostels.

At the event, Anwar also witnessed the handover of a RM1.3 million donation to the AbuSulayman International Student Fund (AISF) at IIUM.

The donation was presented by Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza, President of the Centre for Islam in the Contemporary World at Shenandoah University, on behalf of Sterling Management Group (SMG) to Osman in his capacity as chairman of the IIUM Endowment Fund (IEF).

-- BERNAMA