SYDNEY, May 11 — Selangor students abroad have been urged to cultivate the habit of reading impactful works to build identity and strengthen critical thinking, thereby contributing to national development.
The Siddiq Fadzil Institute of Thought and Leadership’s director Prof Md Sidin Ahmad Ishak, said these efforts align with Malaysia’s aspiration to instil a reading culture among the community, especially the younger generation.
He said students need to utilise their time by reading intellectual works, including chronicles, Malay history, and books written by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and academics.
This reading should be accompanied by peer discussion sessions so that they can understand and appreciate the content more deeply.
“Surveys find that most students are still empty in terms of reading. I believe it is necessary, because if they return home without knowledge, I fear it will cause problems.
“I hope they become a reader and truly read works that have an impact to build identity, awareness, and understanding,” he said during a national lecture in conjunction with the Selangor Student Convention Abroad Australia on Friday (May 8).
The lecture is a discourse that highlights the idea for the future of Malaysia and Selangor by 2057, marking exactly 100 years of national independence.
Not only does it evaluate the history of the independence struggle, but it also invites people to view future challenges through the lens of nation-building, unity, democracy, knowledge, culture, and technology.
Sidin emphasised that innovation is not just about artificial intelligence (AI) and science, but also about the social sciences, economics, and intellectual development.
“Although the theme (of the convention) is about innovation, because many students take majors such as AI and information science, I think they must (also) read impactful materials.
“However, we do not want to be someone who only reads without thinking. So they must read, and internalise the results of their reading so that it contributes to their thinking,” he said.
