KUALA TERENGGANU: Young graduates should not be afraid to voice out their views and embrace diversity of opinions, said Tun Dr Daim Zainuddin.
In his acceptance speech after receiving an honorary doctorate degree in Economics from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) chancellor Sultanah Nur Zahirah at UMT’s 17th convocation ceremony here yesterday, the former finance minister and former Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) chairman said universities should promote healthy debates on differing views, as graduates of today are the future leaders of the country.
“Institutions of higher learning should produce students who could make critical choices, identify issues, understand the needs of all parties concerned and make a good decision, review the results and make further improvements along the way.
“To me, it is always good to debate and voice out differing views. Universities are responsible to inculcate this culture so that Malaysians can find a good way to uphold the pride of the people and nation.
“Without differing views, we will become a weak society that only knows how to follow orders,” said Daim.
He added that those who hold demonstrations should not be punished unless they break the law.
“Do we want our youngsters to be afraid of holding peaceful demonstrations? We need youngsters who are not afraid to uphold their stand and brave enough to defend those who are not able to voice out their views,” he said.
Daim said as an elderly who had seen the struggles to build Malaysia, he is saddened by the worrying increase of racial polarisation in the nation.
“We live in this world by depending on one another. We want university graduates who will compete to build our nation, not competing to destroy what we had painstakingly built,” he added.
Daim equated racial polarisation with a raging fire that would spare no one.
“A raging fire will not differentiate race or religion, it will devour all in its path,” he said.
Daim added that the dignity of a race will depend on its economic, political, sports and cultural achievements, and not by belittling other races.
“We can live in a dignified way, increasing our dignity by improving our achievements,” he added.
With global climate change, extinction of species and weak economic outlook, Daim said nobody really has the time to fight each other.
“Those are our real enemies. We should strive to live together in harmony and build a better nation for everyone,” he said.
“Yes, our nation is not perfect but what is your contribution to make it better?”
At the convocation ceremony, former Malaysian Royal Navy chief Admiral (Rtd) Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin was also conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Management.
The convocation saw 2,902 graduates receiving their scrolls, including 70 doctorates, 145 master’s degrees, 2,591 bachelor’s degrees and 96 diplomas.