PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Members of Parliament to uphold the standards of civil and respectful debate in the Dewan Rakyat, free from insults and profanity, as a mark of responsible governance and leadership.
Speaking after attending the 50th edition of the Prime Minister’s Cup Debate Finals on Saturday, Anwar praised the eloquence, composure and intellectual rigour of the student finalists, describing them as models of public discourse.
“I am very proud of the quality of the debate, and I couldn’t help but wonder – why shouldn't Members of Parliament 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,” he said.
Anwar emphasised that true debate is not merely about oratorical flair, but the capacity to understand, analyse, and clearly articulate ideas – qualities that he said should be reflected in parliamentary proceedings.
The Prime Minister, who also serves as Minister of Finance, applauded the current generation of students for their command of the Malay language and their ability to argue with depth, civility and factual understanding.
He added that the values of decorum and ethical conduct must be integrated into the national education framework, asserting that the vision of a MADANI (Civil and Compassionate) nation cannot rely solely on advancements in artificial intelligence, digitalisation, or emerging technologies.
“When we speak of a MADANI nation, it must be rooted in moral values and ethics, as expressed by Sheikh Taha Jabir Al-Alwani in his work ‘Adab al-Ikhtilaf’ (The Ethics of Disagreement),” said Anwar.
He warned that without a balance between modern knowledge and traditional ethics, Malaysia risks merely adopting a Western mould. “We must train our children not only to master new knowledge but to defend faith, ethics, and local cultural values,” he said.
In the Bahasa Melayu category of the Prime Minister’s Cup, Sekolah Menengah Agama Persekutuan Kajang emerged victorious, while Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah took top honours in the English category.
Malaysia Waiting To Engage Thai-Cambodian Leaders
On a separate matter, Anwar confirmed that Malaysia will continue to engage with the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to propose a peace process following a recent escalation in border conflict between the two ASEAN neighbours.
Anwar said both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had expressed appreciation for Malaysia’s offer to facilitate dialogue and a potential ceasefire.
“There has been more gunfire at the Thai-Cambodian border. I’ve instructed Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to initiate contact with both countries’ foreign ministries, and I may personally reach out to their leaders to urge an immediate halt to hostilities,” he told reporters after the debate event.
Yesterday, Anwar stressed that Malaysia views the ongoing tensions seriously due to potential regional repercussions. He welcomed encouraging signals from Bangkok and Phnom Penh regarding a willingness to consider a ceasefire.
The latest skirmish, reported on Thursday, occurred near the disputed Preah Vihear border area. Both sides have accused each other of provoking the confrontation, which has further strained diplomatic ties.
The Thai-Cambodian border dispute spans over 817 kilometres and remains unresolved after decades of contention, with tensions intensifying since 28 May following the fatal shooting of a Cambodian soldier. - July 26, 2025
