KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he listens to the beating of his own heart and does what is right.
The Prime Minister said this in response to a student's question asking the premier how he continued to do his work when there were forces against him.
Anwar said this during a meet-the-students’ session after officiating the project launch of UCSI University’s campus expansion here Tuesday (Apr 28).
“My teacher Krishna Iyer used to tell me to listen to the beating of my heart. My conviction is that Malaysia can be a great nation and if this country is left to the corrupt and arrogant leaders, this country will be destroyed,” said Anwar.
Earlier, in his speech, Anwar said that tertiary institutions should not be soulless certificate factories but ensure that students are educated human beings with values.
“We have the responsibility to ensure that the private universities are of top quality. If the universities are not garnered towards excellence, it will merely be a factory of certificate holders.
“While tertiary institutions strive to be industry drivers in digital areas and artificial intelligence, this should not dilute our interest in educating human beings with values and morality.
“As we reach for the skies, we should not leave the tracks of culture, ethics and values as this is what makes us unique.
“There is no zero sum game in choosing high technology but devoid of ethics and concerns of humanity,” said Anwar.
He likened it to a university campus unaware of the underprivileged living around it.
Anwar also raised the need for Malaysian tertiary institutions to confront racist and religious bigotry.
“In Penang, they have colloquial terms for certain races, but some of these terms are not suitable anymore in these times.
“We want to be good Muslims but without proper education and culture, we would not mature in the process. Universities are the best places to mould the young to assimilate justice and humanity,” said Anwar.
He also commended UCSI for emerging as a premier institution in the country.
At the same event, UCSI founder and university council chairman Datuk Peter Ng stated that the university has come far in its 40 years since beginning at a shop lot.
“UCSI began modestly on the second floor of a shop lot in SS2, with only two borrowed computers. We even assembled our own furniture. The beginning was not easy, and the journey has been long. However, through the efforts and dedication of our students and staff, we have continued to grow to where we are today.
“UCSI is now ranked among the top 30 universities in Asia and 8th in Southeast Asia according to the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026. The university has also remained in the top 1% of universities worldwide for four consecutive years, ranking 269th globally.
“In the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, UCSI stands out as the Malaysian university with the highest number of subjects in the global top 50 - four in total: music, performing arts, art and design, as well as hospitality and tourism management
“This campus expansion is not merely a physical development, but an investment in the future. It lays a strong foundation for the next 40 years. Since 1986, UCSI has produced more than 80,000 graduates and has become a second home to students from over 120 countries,” said Ng.
UCSI chancellor Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, in his welcoming speech, also said that UCSI holds much promise to put talented Malaysians on the global stage.
“It is only 40 years old but already the 26th best university in the world for music according to the latest QS rankings. I have enjoyed playing piano in our auditorium, which has produced musicians such as megastar Aina Abdul (who is from Seremban), violinist Dr Joanne Yeoh, producer Dennis Lau, jazz pianist Ganesh Bala, and World Harmonica Champions Aiden Soon and Evelyn Choong.
"But I’m even more excited for the future. Finally, Malaysia will have a world-class venue for opera and ballet productions.
“As excited as we are for new infrastructure, we must always be mindful that it aligns with our more important mission: to imbue students with moral values and ethical behaviour,” Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin.
