PUTRAJAYA, July 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on MPs to foster a culture of respectful and civilised debate in the Dewan Rakyat, free from insults and profanity.
Expressing his admiration for the participants of the 2025 Prime Minister’s Cup Debate Finals, he commended their eloquence, confidence, thoughtful use of facts, and measured arguments, noting that Parliamentarians should emulate such qualities.
“I am very proud of the quality of the debate, and I could not help but wonder — why Members of Parliament should not learn from this? If we wish to debate, we must first master knowledge, analyse it, process it, and present it effectively.
“These young participants demonstrated an impressive standard of debate, and I salute them. Debate is not merely about speaking well; it is about the ability to understand, analyse, and articulate ideas clearly. That is precisely what I believe our Members of Parliament should learn to emulate,” Anwar said.
He also praised the current generation of students for their strong command of the Malay language and their ability to engage in discussions with depth, knowledge, and understanding.
Values like manners and ethics must be integral to the national education system, as the vision of building a Madani Malaysia cannot rely solely on technological advancements like artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and emerging technologies.
“When we talk about a Madani nation, it must be founded on values and ethics, as articulated by Sheikh Taha Jabir Al-Alwani in his work Adab al-Ikhtilaf,” Anwar said.
Acknowledging the complexity of today’s challenges and the need for future generations to master new knowledge, the Prime Minister stressed that such advancement must be grounded in tradition, human values, and ethical principles.
“We train our children not only to master new knowledge but also to uphold the values of faith, ethics, and local culture. Without this balance, we risk merely replicating the model of Western countries,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 50th edition of the debate saw SMA Persekutuan Kajang crowned champion in the Malay language category, while Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah emerged victorious in the English category.
— Bernama
