Kuala Lumpur:Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on youths to assume leadership roles today rather than waiting for the future, emphasizing their importance as the moral compass of society.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar urged university students to lead public discourse and to be at the forefront of battling corruption, exploitation, and systemic injustice. Addressing the 3rd International Young Future Leaders Summit 2026 (iFUTURE 2026) at the World Trade Centre, he questioned the notion that young people are merely future leaders, asserting their current leadership potential.
Reflecting on his past as a student activist, Anwar criticized the older generation's view of youths as solely future leaders. He stressed that young people are leaders of both the present and the future, emphasizing the need for them to stand against corruption and injustice with conviction.
Anwar highlighted that true leadership extends beyond academic qualifications, requiring moral integrity and empathy. He warned against intellectual arrogance, stating that academic achievements must be guided by a moral conscience.
To support student leaders in exercising critical thinking and expressing their ideas, Anwar reaffirmed the government's commitment to amending the restrictive Universities and University Colleges Act 1971. He assured that no one would face prosecution for their ideas or criticism, even if it involves critiquing the Prime Minister or government policies.
The iFUTURE 2026 summit, themed 'Redefining Future Leaders Through Value-Based Leadership,' is a flagship initiative of the Higher Education Ministry. It is organized by the Higher Education Department in collaboration with Yayasan Perkasa Siswa and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah. The three-day event, from October 11 to 13, gathers 1,231 student leaders, including 813 Malaysians and 418 international delegates from 60 countries, to foster leadership networks through dialogue and engagement.
The summit was attended by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Deputy Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim.