SHAH ALAM: Confidence, a strong mindset and the readiness to act are the three qualities needed by Malaysians in order that the nation could regain its “Asian Tiger” status.
Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Malaysia’s renaissance will not occur without these qualities – particularly if its leaders have no conscience or strong faith, Bernama reported.
“If you want to be an Asian Tiger, you must have discipline, strong values, attitude, strength, confidence and be able to act,” he said in his speech at the close of the Rise of the Asian Tiger Convention at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam here, last night.
Anwar said that towards this end, the current government, led by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is committed to an agenda of fighting corruption and ensuring that the wellbeing of the people is taken care of.
“Malaysians – whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan or others – will most likely not be protected if their leaders do not have a conscience,” he added.
Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman; Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian; and UiTM Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim.
The PKR president said that the right mindset is necessary in nation building, because without it, individuals could easily be influenced by the promise of quick money or powerful positions.
“(Leaders) should have concern for the people who are suffering, poor, or are being left out. If they show no (concern), then (Malaysia) will only be an ‘economic animal’ without morals,” he said.
Anwar added that if Malaysian students want change and development, they must try to understand the nation’s problems and issues at the grassroots level, and take action directly instead of referring to books or learning simply through discourse.
“If you are a student leadership council member, you should go down to the ground to be with the people,” he said.