Parliament Must Move Beyond Outdated Debates and Focus on Nation’s Future – PM Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described parliamentary debates that continue to revolve around questions of who is Muslim, who is not and who is a hypocrite as being trapped in a rigid, outdated and backward mindset.

He said that while the country needs to focus on mastering emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputing, parliamentary debates still appear to lack forward-looking thinking.

“If we look at the debates in Parliament today, for example, they are not about ‘reaching for the sky’ at all.

“The discussions are about who is Muslim, who is not Muslim, who is a hypocrite and who is not. They remain trapped in a rigid, outdated and backward framework of thinking,” he said while delivering a speech at the Industry Excellence Awards (AKI) 2026 ceremony in the capital on Friday.

Elaborating further, Anwar stressed that national development requires the younger generation and industry players to be prepared to think ahead, particularly in enhancing capabilities and modernising the industrial sector.

According to him, outdated approaches can no longer serve as the foundation for elevating the country’s economy. Instead, industries must be prepared to master emerging technologies.

“If we want to develop this country, the younger generation and industry players must be prepared to think ahead.

“Industries must enhance their capabilities and modernise. We cannot elevate our economy using outdated approaches. That is why we speak of ‘reaching for the sky’,” he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar said efforts to transform Malaysia into an advanced industrial nation must also be balanced with the preservation of national identity, including language, culture, values, courtesy and humanity.

He said Malaysia does not necessarily need to adopt the cultures of countries such as the United States, Russia or China in its pursuit of progress. Instead, the country must continue preserving its cultural roots while respecting the sensitivities of its multiracial and multireligious society.

“We want to become a developed and industrialised nation, but that does not mean we must adopt the cultures of America, Russia or China. No. We want to ensure that our roots remain firmly planted here.

“That means preserving our language, culture, values and humanity, while respecting the sentiments of different races and religions, because this is a necessity. It is an imperative that cannot be disputed.

“That is why we say, ‘Reach for the sky, but remain rooted to the ground’,” he added.

He also emphasised that economic growth and strong export performance should not come at the expense of widening inequality, leaving poor communities, including those in remote areas of Kelantan and Kapit, Sarawak, excluded from development.

“We can discuss and talk about driving growth, achieving high exports and recording impressive figures, but inequality continues to widen.

“We cannot allow poor and marginalised communities, whether in the remote areas of Kelantan or in Kapit, Sarawak, to be left behind,” he explained.

In this regard, Anwar stressed the need for the country to adopt an approach focused on strengthening the economy in line with the principle of “reaching for the sky while remaining rooted to the ground.”

AWANI