PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Muslims to remain steadfast in upholding the intellectual and moral traditions of Islam, warning that progress in technology—especially artificial intelligence (AI)—must not come at the expense of ethics, values, and spiritual grounding.
Addressing thousands at the Malaysia Bermunajat 2025 gathering held at Masjid Putra, Putrajaya, Anwar underlined the need to strengthen the relationship between ulama (religious scholars) and umara (leaders) in confronting the complex challenges of modernity.
"If we are not aligned—or worse, not anchored in deep understanding and enlightenment—there is no guarantee of safety," he said.
"Malaysia is among the countries advancing AI development. But if we do not infuse it with values and ethics, we risk becoming nothing more than consumers of Western systems."
Organised by the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), the programme—held under the theme ‘Menyatukan Ummah Melalui Munajat dan Ilmu’ (Uniting the Ummah Through Supplication and Knowledge)—aimed to foster unity through spiritual reflection and learning, in line with the values of Malaysia MADANI.
Anwar paid tribute to the traditional ‘pondok’ (Village hut) institutions which, he said, had served as vital guardians of Islamic identity, knowledge, and resistance during colonial occupation.
"When colonial forces took over our education, economy, and culture, one source of strength endured—the pondok and pesantren. They preserved the soul of Islam, our knowledge, and the spirit of resistance.
"Imagine a century ago, when the British took control—had it not been for these institutions, we might have lost our aqidah (faith), our spirit, and our identity."
He urged that these institutions be integrated into the national education framework, stressing the importance of enabling their students to access modern skills such as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and AI.
"The children of the pondok must be given space within the modern education system. They must master the digital world—without ever letting go of their Islamic roots."
Anwar further encouraged Muslims to rediscover the rich traditions of Islamic scholarship—particularly in areas such as Qur’anic sciences, hadith, jurisprudence, education, governance, and even technology—to avoid losing their sense of identity amidst the rapid pace of global change.
He also commended Malaysia’s unique position as a platform where Islamic scholars from around the world are invited to share knowledge freely and with mutual respect.
"We are fortunate to live in a peaceful, united nation. And this is perhaps the only country that consistently brings together learned scholars from across the globe to speak, educate, and enlighten the ummah and the nation," he said.
The event was attended by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, alongside thousands of worshippers.
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