KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today called on educators and parents to inculcate the reading habit among the young.
The premier said the reading culture has begun to fade among Malaysians due to the advent of social media.
"Although we cannot question the importance of social media, to be human with dignity or 'karamah insaniah', we must take and start the reading tradition seriously.
"This country and Malaysia Madani cannot rise without morals, values and the willingness to cultivate knowledge through extensive reading since young.
"The same goes for us wanting to become good Muslims. We should not be 'walak' (loyal) without any direction (tidak tentu arah). We must listen and read a lot to become one.
"(This is also needed) to be Malay fighters (pejuang Melayu), not only by shouting slogans but through reading and understanding the Malay culture itself," he said after the launch of the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre here today.
Present was Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
In his speech, Anwar said that one can distinguish the approach of individuals who are knowledgeable from those who are without knowledge who use religion to serve their interests.
He said two distinguished Muslim scholars, former Egypt Grand Mufti Prof Dr Ali Jum'ah and the founder and principal of Darul Musthafa in Yemen, Habib Umar bin Hafidz, were among those who use the application of knowledge in their teachings.
"Yesterday, we had two distinguished Muslim scholars. With their knowledge, their approach to religion is applied with love, tolerance and respect.
"But, for those with shallow (dangkal) knowledge, their approach is spread by cultivating hatred and insulting others in the name of religion because of its shallow understanding."