KUALA LUMPUR, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz today called on children to appreciate and respect their parents while they are still alive, rather than waiting until it is too late.
Speaking at the launch of a book titled ‘Fathers and Their Wisdom’, a compilation of 26 chapters by 29 authors reflecting on the heritage, wisdom, and values passed down from fathers to children, the former Minister of International Trade and Industry emphasised the importance of family values and maintaining close ties with parents.
‘We must appreciate our parents now, not later. It’s not about saying ‘thank you’ every day to them, but showing due respect and attention while they are still with us,’ she said.
Rafidah lamented the decline in family connections in today’s society, where some children rarely visit their parents.
‘Some don’t even visit once a month. What kind of culture is this?’ she said, adding that such neglect goes against the values she and many others were raised with.
Sharing a personal reflection, she recalled her m
other’s advice on living a ‘berkat’ (blessed) life, regardless of material wealth.
‘My mother always said this: ‘Biar sikit, asal berkat’ which means even if it’s little, let it be blessed,’ she said.
Meanwhile, Rafidah addressed the evolving dynamics between parents and educators, highlighting that in her generation, parents completely trusted teachers to discipline their children, which, according to her, is no longer the case today.
‘In the past, parents told teachers, ‘do what you need to do,’ because they trusted them. Now, if a child is scolded, parents go on social media and criticise the teacher,’ she said.
She urged parents and educators to work together in nurturing future generations by instilling important values such as honesty, integrity, humility, and respect for others, regardless of race, religion, or background.
‘Fathers and Their Wisdom’ is edited by Datuk Halimah Mohd Said, Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican, Fauziah Kamaruddin, and Dr Shameem Abdul Jalil.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
