PM Anwar Wants Efforts To Empower Understanding Of History Among Young People

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Efforts to strengthen the understanding of history among the young need to be enhanced to foster interest in the country's history and further build patriotism, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is also the Minister of Finance, said that although the country is moving towards digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), the historical aspect needs to be emphasised so that young people are always on the right track in facing the country's current challenges.

"So our challenge is how we can develop a national narrative that can break through existing obstacles so that historical literacy can also develop among the younger generation and society," he said.

Anwar said this when speaking at the launch, presentation of credentials and meeting of the National Historians Council here today.

He said that there should be more efforts to explain the country's history and make it more interesting to further raise the interest of young people in understanding the history of the formation of Malaysia.

"Prepare materials, whether in leaflets, pictures so that they (young people) can take back and try to understand (about history)," he said.

According to Anwar, young people need to be trained in various disciplines including language, religious culture and AI without ever abandoning the issue of values ​​based on what is right and forbidding what is wrong'.

"For me, history is not just a discipline but knowledge about society and civilization. What's more, in a developing country, instilling a passion (interest in history) among the younger generation (is necessary) so that they don't miss out this historical foundation.

"In education, I emphasise the concept that we reach for what is in the sky, we raise AI and new thinking but we must continue to be rooted in the earth because history is for us to continue to be rooted in the earth," he said.

Anwar also emphasised that history must educate in terms of morality and it does not deviate from the truth and transparency of history.

"Civilization is not established with technology alone. Civilization is established with culture, with history and the civilization we are establishing must be Malaysian civilization,” he said.

Regarding the National Historians Council, he said the council’s role is to engage in discourse with all parties and provide advice to the government to improve historical literacy.

“Our task (the National Historians Council) is to continue to engage in discourse with all parties and then provide advice to the government. What else should be done,” he said.

Also present were National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, Speaker of Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Deputy National Unity Minister K Saraswathy and director-general of Public Service (KPPA) Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.

-- BERNAMA