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ECONOMIC and technological progress will mean little if Malaysia abandons its moral foundations and commitment to justice, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said the country’s development and mastery of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) must be balanced with integrity, clean governance and strong personal character.
“A MADANI country cannot be built solely through policies or new technologies such as AI. It is important for us to master them, but the foundation must be ‘rooted in the earth’ — namely faith, morality and character — so that our values are preserved.
“Islam and national development do not rest on slogans or enthusiasm alone, but through knowledge and practice,” he said when speaking at the Maulid Akbar celebration at Masjid Tengah Berapit in Bukit Mertajam last night.
Anwar said the respect of Malaysia’s multiracial society for its leadership was built through honesty, diligence and a rejection of corruption.
“People respect us when they see good work practices, diligence, keeping promises and not ‘helping ourselves’ to money. When integrity is prioritised, we naturally become the best example to everyone,” he said.
He also called for continued efforts to explain the Islamic concept of Islam as a mercy to all creation (Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin) to foster harmony among Malaysia’s different races and faiths.
The Government, he said, was also committed to strengthening cooperation between administrators (umara’) and scholars, as well as pondok institutions, to ensure national development remained guided by sound advice and moral values. - August 29, 2026
