YOUNG Malaysians and students must not view the legacy of the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein as distant history, says Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir (pic).
Instead, the Higher Education Minister stressed that they must see it as an enduring responsibility that continues to shape the nation’s future.
Speaking at the Tun Abdul Razak Legacy Forum at Universiti Malaya on April 21, he said that in today’s “postnormal times”, marked by uncertainty and rapid global change, Malaysia must return to the principles embodied by Tun Razak to find direction and stability.
“The question is not whether we are managing challenges, but whether we are building the future.
“Leadership today must move beyond reaction and instead focus on shaping long-term national outcomes,” he said.
Zambry also highlighted Tun Razak’s role as a nation builder who introduced transformative policies such as the New Economic Policy and rural development programmes designed to address inequality and strengthen unity.
More importantly, he said Tun Razak saw education as a central pillar of nation-building, using it to unify society, expand access and create pathways out of poverty.
“Students today must carry forward this philosophy by becoming thinkers and problem-solvers who can navigate complexity with values, discipline and purpose.
“The legacy is not just to be remembered; it is an amanah (responsibility) to be continued,” he said.
