PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has praised Malaysia’s student leaders for their articulate and reasoned debating skills, suggesting that some perform better than Members of Parliament.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Putrajaya Festival of Ideas 2025 on Thursday, Anwar urged young Malaysians to lead by example in promoting intelligent and ethical discourse, while encouraging the media to feature these voices in televised discussions.
“Some of our student leaders debate better than our MPs,” he quipped, drawing laughter and applause from the audience.
“Perhaps we could even invite them to debate in Parliament — maybe not in the main hall, but in the hall next to it — and hopefully the MPs will listen,” he added.
Anwar said Malaysia must move beyond shallow and divisive rhetoric to nurture a generation that values ideas, truth and progress.
“Even in Parliament today, some debates are offensive — insulting other races and religions — without offering constructive ideas. This is not healthy politics, and these are the kinds of ideologies we must move past,” he said.
He reminded students to use their freedom of ideas to seek truth rather than spread half-truths or cling to outdated mindsets.
“We are independent and sovereign, yet some minds are still trapped — rigid and resistant to new ideas and technologies. Use your freedom of ideas to explore, innovate and think critically,” he said.
Reiterating his belief that education should be accessible to all, Anwar said the Madani government remained committed to supporting the hardcore poor through free education initiatives announced under Budget 2026.
“Education should be free for everyone — from preschool to university — that should be the way,” he said. “The Madani government has started something that has never been done before. We will begin by helping the hardcore poor, depending on our financial capacity. Starting next year, they will receive free education at all levels.”
The initiative, aligned with the Budget 2026 announcement, will provide free higher education at public universities for students from poor and hardcore poor families through the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).
Despite fiscal constraints, Anwar said the measure represents an important step towards social equity and breaking the cycle of poverty.
Organised by the Higher Education Ministry, the Putrajaya Festival of Ideas drew thousands of university students and academic representatives nationwide. The event featured conferences, forums, exhibitions and sessions focusing on higher education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship. - November 8, 2025
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