FUKUOKA: THE implementation of science and technology should always benefit humanity; it should not be used as a tool to promote war or murder.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in his 16th lecture before this year’s summer class of Japan Future Leaders School, said science and technology was not necessarily detrimental but it could be put to such use. For instance, take the knife. A knife can be used to carve beautiful things. But it can also be used for murder in certain hands.
“The use of technology for either purpose is something that the Japanese know very well, as seen when the (atomic) bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“The science behind atomic fusion and diffusion could have been used for medical advancement. Humans are, in fact, the (greatest) factor in determining the use of science. The choice is yours.”
Dr Mahathir advised the class, made up of high schoolers from various countries, including Malaysia, Vietnam and China, to look into current world problems centring on the abuse of science and technology.
“The burden is now on you. You must help and find ways to make the world safer for humanity. There is a mentality of war criminals, who are responsible for killing millions, being celebrated as heroes with monuments of them built.
“You must change this mindset. Whether you kill one, or millions, murder remains a crime.”
Later, during a question-and-answer session with the students, Dr Mahathir said despite the fact that it was still present, the global trend on racial discrimination had waned.
“The blacks were brought in as slaves to the United States. But today, we have seen one of them become the country’s president.
“The same goes for the new United Kingdom cabinet line-up. Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently appointed the son of a Pakistani immigrant family (Sajid Javid) as finance minister.”
To another question, Dr Mahathir said it was the passion to see Malaysia succeed that drove him to soldier on at the country’s helm despite his advanced age.
“Passion is the key and the satisfaction which we feel, at the achievement of an objective, is what will push us to do more.”
Dr Mahathir is accompanied by his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on the trip.
He later visited teamLab Future Park, which is popular for its digital art exhibition and interactive light display.
Earlier in the day, Dr Mahathir was conferred an honorary doctorate in recognition of his leadership and Malaysia-Japan policies by the International University of Japan (IUJ).
IUJ president Hiroyuki Itami, who presented the doctorate, said he hoped it would promote broader exchanges between the Malaysian government and the university in various areas, particularly education.
He said the conferment was also to signify Dr Mahathir’s contributions stemming from his Look East Policy, which saw many Malaysian government officials study at IUJ.
“(This is to) praise the achievements of the unique and most experienced prime minister in the world. The conferment on Dr Mahathir is the first privilege of its kind for IUJ.
“It is recognised and appreciated that many young Malaysians who studied in Japan have contributed to development in Malaysia under (the Look East) policy.”
Itami added that IUJ had, last year, launched the master’s programme in Japan-Global Development Studies in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
“It can be asserted that the programme is an evolution and development of higher education echoing Dr Mahathir’s Look East Policy. Dr Mahathir is an internationally respected philosopher.
“Following the honorary doctorate award ceremony, IUJ will accept young people who will be top leaders in Malaysia in the future and further develop exchanges between the two countries.”
Dr Mahathir, in his acceptance speech, said he was only carrying out the duties of a leader in his job as prime minister.
“Any leader, given the opportunity and power, would do what I have done. Malaysia was a poor agricultural country, but because of the need to create jobs, we had to create infrastructure to facilitate such demands.
“I am grateful for being recognised for doing something that is regarded as unusual (turning an agricultural country into an industrial one), and for playing the role of a leader.”
Dr Mahathir's two-day visit here ends today.