Youth Must Step Up As Leadership Partners Today - PM Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Youth should no longer be regarded merely as "future leaders", but must step up as leadership partners who jointly shape the nation's direction today, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said current geopolitical challenges and narratives require the proactive involvement of the younger generation to collectively defend the nation's dignity.

"You are not only leaders of the future, but also leaders now working together. Today's youth must also step forward to help and lead the nation," he said when officiating the Youth Economic Forum 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here today.

Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, Political Secretary to the Minister of Finance Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, and Perdana Fellows Alumni Association president Fanitsyara Kam Phon.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, reminded the younger generation not to take national stability and security for granted by allowing hate and racial sentiments to thrive.

Drawing lessons from world history, the Prime Minister said the fall of a civilisation often stems from internal strife and the failure to foster a spirit of unity.

"Young people, do not assume that this country will remain safe while allowing obvious weaknesses to persist, such as harbouring hatred and hostility between races, religions, and regions, which can lead to division and destruction," he said.

Instead, he said Malaysia's uniqueness and strength are anchored in its racial, religious, and regional diversity, rather than being dragged down by divisive racial political rhetoric.

As such, he called on the younger generation of all races and ethnicities across the country to stand firm in rejecting any form of provocation or division.

"I choose to state that Malaysia is great because we can gather and embrace this strength. I consider all of this as a collective strength that can fortify and elevate us," he added.

Touching on governance, the Prime Minister shared lessons in integrity learned during his childhood as a guide for young people to abhor corruption, embezzlement, and the abuse of power for self-enrichment.

Recalling a memory from when he was eight years old, Anwar recounted how his grandmother firmly insisted he return four nutmegs taken without permission from a nearby estate at night.

"My grandmother said... 'Anwar, taking anything without permission from anyone, even if it is just four nutmegs, is stealing, and stealing is a sin'," he said.

Anwar said this strict discipline and moral grounding formed his foundational principle in leading the nation, namely to never allow anyone to steal or misappropriate government assets.

At the same time, he expressed disappointment over the tendency of certain quarters to blindly defend corruption-tainted leaders purely on grounds of racial ties or party sentiment.

As such, the Prime Minister urged youth not to condone or align with such mindsets, but instead step up and reject any leader who abuses power for personal gain.

-- BERNAMA