Apply critical thinking, don't fall for hate speech: Anwar tells students

 

University students should use their critical thinking and not simply absorb whatever hateful comments that politicians feed them, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Speaking at a talk session with a group of university students this afternoon, Anwar said students shouldn’t judge based on hatred but use their wisdom by doing their own assessment.

“In every programme I attend in every state, I make it a point to meet the youths because they deserve to know the real situation.

“And I told them it is okay if they disagree with me but they should make their own assessment, read, and compare.

“This is what I call critical thinking. Besides creative thinking, students also should be critical in their thinking,” he told the audience.

Anwar was speaking at a programme called “Program Cakna Madani Perdana Menteri” with Public Services Department (PSD) scholarship students, held at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Bangi.

Racial, religious attacks

In an apparent swipe against his political opponents, the PKR president said some politicians had been using racial and religious rhetoric to attack the government.

Among their claims, Anwar said, was that he had allowed the country to be taken over by the Chinese and DAP.

According to the prime minister, the government has continued to defend the Federal Constitution, status of Bahasa Melayu, the special privileges of the Malays and bumiputera, Islam as the official religion of the federation, and the status of the Malay rulers, among others.

However, he stressed, the government is doing these while at the same time taking care of others in the country.

“The Chinese, Indians, Dayak, Kadazan, all these are our people too. They are a part of our big family. So we take care of everyone. We do not neglect anyone.

“But when I say this, some would spin it and accuse me of equating the Malays to the Chinese,” he told the audience.

According to Anwar, the country would go to the dogs (negara akan rosak) if its people fail to think critically and choose to simply accept what politicians throw at them.

“There are some who studied in universities, some even had doctorates, but when some (politicians) claimed that the Malays are in danger, that the Chinese and DAP are now in control because Anwar is in power, they simply agreed to it.

“So, what I am asking is that you must have critical thinking. Because we want to save our future,” he added.

Political apathy, trust deficit

During the event, Anwar also answered a question from the floor about the trust deficit among youths toward the government and politicians.

Speaking about this, the prime minister admitted that local politics may have caused youths to lose trust in the country’s leadership.

The youths have been frustrated because they have seen many political leaders making empty promises, issuing fatwa whenever it suits their political appetite, and slandering each other, he said.

Heavy politicking, Anwar added, have caused the youths to be confused and feel that their interests are not being prioritised.

However, the prime minister told the audience that they should not lose confidence in the new government, saying that the administration is working hard to reform the country, including against what he described as entrenched and systemic corruption.

“You have to help us in bringing back the trust (of the youths).

“Bring their trust back. We are working hard here. It will not be easy for us to fight against corruptors, who have amassed billions of ringgit.

“But we will fight them.” - Mkini