PUTRAJAYA: Some student leaders today are more articulate and reasoned in debate than some Members of Parliament, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister urged young Malaysians to champion intelligent and ethical discourse while calling on the media to feature these young leaders in televised discussions.
“Some of our student leaders debate better than our MPs,” the Prime Minister quipped, drawing laughter and applause from the audience at the closing ceremony of the Putrajaya Festival of Ideas 2025 here on Thursday (Nov 7).
“Perhaps we could even invite them to debate in Parliament — maybe not in the main hall, but in the hall next to it — and hopefully the MPs will listen,” he added.
Anwar said Malaysia must move away from shallow and divisive rhetoric to nurture a generation that values ideas, truth and progress.
“Even in Parliament today, some debates are offensive — insulting other races and religions — without offering constructive ideas.
“This is not healthy politics, and these are the kinds of ideologies we must move past,” he said.
He reminded students to use their freedom of ideas to seek truth, not to spread half-truths or cling to outdated mindsets.
“We are independent and sovereign, yet some minds are still trapped — rigid and resistant to new ideas and technologies.
“Use your freedom of ideas to explore, innovate and think critically,” he said.
Reiterating his belief that education should be accessible to all, Anwar said the Madani government was committed to supporting the hardcore poor through free education initiatives, as announced in Budget 2026.
“Education should be free for everyone — from preschool to university — that should be the way.
“The Madani government has started something that has never been done before.
“We will begin by helping the hardcore poor, depending on our financial capacity. Starting next year, they will receive free education at all levels,” he said.
The measure is in line with an earlier Budget 2026 announcement to provide free higher education at public universities for students from poor and hardcore poor families through the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).
Despite fiscal constraints, Anwar said the initiative marked a step towards social equity and breaking the poverty cycle.
The Putrajaya Festival of Ideas was organised by the Higher Education Ministry and attended by thousands of university students and academic representatives nationwide.
It featured conferences, forums, exhibitions and sessions on higher education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
