KUALA LUMPUR: Professionals should look beyond narrow specialisations and play a wider role in national development, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said professional excellence must go beyond technical expertise, with specialists also needing an understanding of themselves, society, the environment, the wider world and climate.
Anwar also questioned how professionalism and human dignity could be upheld while narrow racial attitudes persisted and religion, race or regional identity were used to divide people.
“How can we talk about professionalism when narrow and deeply entrenched racial attitudes remain?” he said.
Anwar warned against producing highly skilled professionals who excel in narrow fields but remain disconnected from wider society.
He also cautioned against what he called the “barbarism of specialisation”, particularly as Malaysia moves deeper into artificial intelligence, quantum computing and digital transformation.
“Artificial intelligence is an area of specialisation. Quantum computing, digital transformation, all of these demand a high degree of specialisation.
“But do not turn specialisation into what is termed the ‘barbarism of specialisation’,” he said.
He said professionals also had a responsibility to speak up against wrongdoing and failures in governance.
Referring to past controversies involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd, Tabung Haji and Felda, the Prime Minister said responsibility did not rest solely with political leaders.
“Yes, political leaders are responsible. But professionals are not exempt,” he said when launching the Professional Conference & Exhibition 2026 (Profex 2026).
Anwar urged professionals to act as agents of reform and catalysts for new thinking, saying their expertise placed them in a position to offer new proposals, approaches and technologies.
He said the strength of Malaysia’s professional community lay in its diversity across disciplines, races and regions, adding that professional bodies could bring these strengths together and foster greater cooperation.
The Prime Minister also announced that Sept 29 will now be observed as Hari Ikhtisas Malaysia.
Anwar said he agreed with the proposal as there was sound reasoning in bringing professionals from different fields together.
