Anwar calls on young Malaysians to master AI and new tech to drive economic growth

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged Malaysia's youth to master technologies like AI and quantum computing to propel economic growth.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining ethics and values amid digital transformation and technological development.

Anwar called for critical thinking and devotion to truth, justice, knowledge, and integrity among young people to advance the nation's progress.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysia’s youth to master emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing to drive economic growth.

He said young people must be prepared to explore new fields of knowledge to ensure the country’s technological advancement is guided by its own values, ethics and principles.

“Digital transformation requires AI. Otherwise, we will fall behind in development and in our ability to strengthen the economy.

“I said recently in Shanghai, when I was with Chinese Premier (Li Qiang), that we must master AI. Otherwise, AI will master us,” he said.

Anwar was speaking at the opening of the Youth Economic Forum 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.

Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Mohammed Taufiq Johari, political secretary to the finance minister Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, Perdana Fellows Alumni Association president Fanitsyara Kam Phon, and Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Anwar said while digital transformation and high-technology economic development were essential, such progress should not come at the expense of ethics, morality and human values.

“Reach for the skies, but remain rooted in the ground. That means new technology, new sciences, new research ... but do not let AI erode moral, ethical and human values,” he said.

Anwar said the government would continue to improve the quality of education, strengthen proficiency in Bahasa Melayu and English, and give young Malaysians opportunities to master other languages, including Chinese, Tamil, Arabic, French and German.

He also urged young people to exercise critical thinking and not become “tools” or blindly devoted to any particular individual or political party.

Instead, he urged the younger generation to be devoted to truth, justice, the pursuit of knowledge and integrity as they work to lead the country towards greater success.

“I am confident that if this is the new spirit, we will see our country move forward at speed and, within 10 years, we will no longer recognise the Malaysia of today. Instead, we will see a new, vibrant, progressive and successful Malaysia,” he said. — Bernama

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马来西亚总理拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣敦促马来西亚青年掌握人工智能和量子计算等技术，以推动经济增长。

他强调了在数字化转型和技术发展过程中保持道德和价值观的重要性。

安华呼吁年轻人培养批判性思维，并致力于追求真理、正义、知识和正直，以促进国家进步。

吉隆坡，10月3日讯——马来西亚总理拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣敦促马来西亚青年掌握人工智能（AI）和量子计算等新兴技术，以推动经济增长。

他表示，年轻人必须做好准备去探索新的知识领域，以确保国家的科技进步受到自身价值观、道德和原则的指导。

“数字化转型需要人工智能。否则，我们在发展和增强经济实力方面将会落后。”

他说：“我最近在上海与中国总理（李强）会面时就说过，我们必须掌握人工智能。否则，人工智能就会掌握我们。”

安华今天在吉隆坡会议中心举行的2026年青年经济论坛开幕式上发表了讲话。

出席者包括青年及体育部长穆罕默德·陶菲克·佐哈里、财政部长穆罕默德·卡米尔·阿卜杜勒·穆尼姆政治秘书、Perdana Fellows校友会主席Fanitsyara Kam Phon和马来西亚投资发展局（MIDA）主席东姑拿督斯里·扎夫鲁·阿卜杜勒·阿齐兹。

安华表示，虽然数字化转型和高科技经济发展至关重要，但这种进步不应以牺牲伦理、道德和人类价值观为代价。

“要志存高远，但也要脚踏实地。这意味着要发展新技术、新科学、新研究……但不要让人工智能侵蚀道德、伦理和人文价值观，”他说。

安华表示，政府将继续提高教育质量，加强马来语和英语的熟练程度，并为马来西亚年轻人提供掌握其他语言的机会，包括中文、泰米尔语、阿拉伯语、法语和德语。

他还敦促年轻人培养批判性思维，不要成为任何特定个人或政党的“工具”或盲目效忠对象。

相反，他敦促年轻一代致力于追求真理、正义、知识和正直，努力带领国家走向更大的成功。

“我相信，如果这种精神得以延续，我们的国家将飞速发展，十年之内，我们将不再认得今天的马来西亚。取而代之的是一个崭新、充满活力、进步且成功的马来西亚。”他说道。——马新社

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端伊布拉欣表示，由于事先已有安排，伊斯兰党领导人未能出席哈斯玛博士的葬礼。

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