UPSI/Bernama picture.
IPOH: The creative works of the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee have profound philosophical thoughts that remain relevant and should serve as a reference in addressing current moral challenges and social changes.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) board of directors member Datuk Seri Ahmad Burak said P. Ramlee was a community educator through art, with every piece showcasing sharp social criticism, humanitarian messages and moral teachings presented in a relaxed yet effective manner.
“Dialogues like in the movie Anak Bapak clearly illustrate an emphasis on trust and integrity.
“The message is that once trust is lost, it is difficult to regain it, thereby proving how art can be used to instil values in society,” he said at the launch of the Pemikiran P. Ramlee seminar at the university’s Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah campus near Tanjung Malim, Perak, recently, Bernama reported.
Ahmad, who is also the president of Persatuan Alumni Suluh Budiman, said P. Ramlee’s works are not merely entertainment, but an educational medium that is loaded with values of trust, integrity and the formation of national identity.
He said that P. Ramlee’s movies like Bujang Lapok, Anakku Sazali, Antara Dua Darjat and Tiga Abdul also showcased aspects of discipline, responsibility, mutual respect, the importance of knowledge and family ties.
He said this is in line with the concept of holistic education that covers physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual aspects.
He said the seminar examines aspects of educational thought, social criticism and humanistic philosophy in the late actor’s works.
The event was organised by UPSI’s Malay Language and Literature Department’s Malay Literature Programme, in collaboration with Persatuan Penulis Budiman Malaysia, Persatuan Alumni Suluh Budiman, Persatuan Persuratan Melayu and the Penang P. Ramlee Fan Club.
Meanwhile, Penang P. Ramlee Fan Club president Tan Sri Mohd Yussof Latiff said P. Ramlee must not be seen merely as an entertainer but as a thinker and educator of society through art, who recorded philosophy, values and social criticism so subtly that they continue to serve as a reference throughout time.
“As someone who has long followed his legacy, I always emphasise that P. Ramlee did not just entertain, but shaped the attitudes, manners and thinking of the Malay community,” he said.
He added that the educational and humanitarian values in P. Ramlee’s works are timeless and important for the younger generation to understand as the basis for building national identity.
“Such seminars are extremely important for bringing together scholars and art enthusiasts, as well as to instil awareness that art is education.”
