PUTRAJAYA, Sept 8 — Efforts to strengthen historical understanding among the young need to be enhanced to cultivate interest in the nation's history and build patriotism, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said although the country is moving towards digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), the historical aspect must be emphasised to ensure young people remain on the right track in facing current challenges.
"Our challenge is how we can develop a national narrative that can overcome existing obstacles and promote historical literacy 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 more efforts are needed to explain the country's history and present it in a way that would interest more young people to understand the history of Malaysia's formation.
"Prepare materials, whether in leaflets or pictures, so that they (young people) can take them home and learn more (about history)," he said.
According to Anwar, young people must be trained in various disciplines, including language, religious culture and AI, without neglecting values based on what is right and forbidding what is wrong.
"For me, history is not just a discipline but knowledge about society and civilisation. 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 of reaching for the sky, we pursue AI and new thinking, but we must remain rooted in the earth, because history keeps us grounded,” he said.
Anwar also emphasised that history must serve as a moral education and should not deviate from truth and transparency.
"Civilisation is not established with technology alone. Civilisation is built with culture, history and the civilisation we are establishing must be Malaysian civilisation."
Regarding the National Historians Council, he said its role is to engage in discourse with all parties and provide advice to the government to improve historical literacy.
Also present were National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Deputy National Unity Minister Saraswathy Kandasami, and Public Service director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.
