KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for a national revival of critical thinking and literacy, warning that ignorance remains the root cause of prejudice and division in society, not diversity.
Anwar said a country could achieve economic progress but still face serious social problems if its people lacked intellectual depth and understanding of history, culture and values.
“A nation can develop rapidly, but without literacy and comprehension, many problems will arise.
“Shallow understanding of history, of the key elements and principles that unite us, leads to conflict – whether over race, religion or region,” he said when launching Financial Literacy Month (FLM) 2025 and the National Strategy for Financial Literacy 2026-2030 (NS2.0) at Sasana Kijang here on Friday (Oct 3).
Citing Palestinian academic Edward Said’s essay “The Clash of Ignorance”, published in The Nation magazine, Anwar said: “There is hardly any comprehension of other cultures or civilisations, whether Western, Eastern, Chinese, Indian, or Islamic.
“Said’s point was sharp – it is not a clash of civilisations, but a clash of ignorance.
“The same ignorance causes people to generalise and judge without understanding.”
Anwar said this tendency to pass judgment quickly, driven by a lack of comprehension, had become a global phenomenon.
He urged Malaysians to confront this challenge by cultivating a more discerning and informed mindset from an early age.
“Education is not just about schools and qualifications. True literacy is about understanding knowledge, culture and history.
“We must give power and empowerment to the people – to think, to comprehend, and to decide wisely,” he said.
To complement this broader vision of intellectual literacy, Anwar said Malaysia must also strengthen financial literacy, particularly in an increasingly digital and complex economic landscape.
In his foreword in the NS2.0 booklet, Anwar described the initiative not merely as a framework, but as a catalyst for economic and social empowerment, ensuring that literacy translates into meaningful change for the people.
“This strategy aims to empower Malaysians from all walks of life to navigate today’s financial environment with confidence and competence.
“It seeks to help citizens manage debt and financial risks more effectively, build resilience in facing unforeseen circumstances, use digital financial services safely and wisely, and support vulnerable groups to ensure fair opportunities for all,” he said.
The strategy builds on the foundation of NS1.0 (2019-2023), adopting a more adaptive approach to address new challenges arising from digitalisation, structural economic shifts and evolving lifestyle patterns.
It focuses on five key priorities, namely promoting prudent financial planning and retirement preparedness; cultivating responsible debt management; safeguarding financial security through risk protection; encouraging safe, confident and meaningful use of digital financial services; and fostering investment as a means of wealth creation.
Anwar said building both intellectual and financial literacy would ensure Malaysians are equipped not only with knowledge, but also with wisdom and discernment.
“If we want this country to succeed, we must embark on new programmes and foster a more comprehensive understanding.
“We have to work doubly hard to ensure that we sustain and excel,” he said.
