KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysian youth to reject the traditional view that they are merely "leaders of tomorrow," urging them instead to act as co-leaders today in driving national unity, anti-corruption, and ethical technological adoption.
Speaking at the closing of the Youth Economic Forum (YEF) 2026 on Saturday (Oct 3), Anwar reflected on his past as a student activist and leader of the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM), recalling his frustration with older leaders who offered lectures rather than meaningful partnerships.
"Back then, I was not happy when leaders gave lectures and said young people are leaders of the future," Anwar said. "You are not only leaders for the future, but also leaders now, working together to help and lead the country."
The Prime Minister warned the younger generation against viewing the country through narrow racial, religious, or regional lenses, citing the historical collapses of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia as cautions against internal division.
"There is no country in the world that can be safe and successful if you don't elevate the spirit of unity," he said.
On governance and integrity, Anwar stressed an unyielding stance against corruption. Illustrating the point with a personal story from his childhood in Cherok Tok Kun, Penang—where his grandmother made him return four stolen nutmegs—Anwar emphasized that early moral discipline forms the bedrock of leadership.
"My grandmother said if you take it without permission... the punishment is theft. And theft is a sin," he recalled, adding that leadership requires both personal honesty and preventing others from stealing public resources.
Addressing rapid technological shifts, Anwar urged youth to master emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and digitalisation, while ensuring human values dictate their application.
"We must control AI. If not, AI will control us," he cautioned, calling for critical thinking and moral grounding amid digital advancement.
During the event, Anwar and Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Mohammed Taufiq Johari formally received a set of six youth-led policy recommendations presented by Perdana Fellows Alumni Association (PFAA) president Fanitsyara Kam Phon.
Formulated from a survey of over 2,000 respondents and roundtables involving 112 young leaders, as well as discussions with Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, the proposals outline key economic priorities.
The policy recommendations focus on expanding AI access toward professional qualifications and master's degrees, alongside deploying AI to streamline public service delivery and cut waiting times.
Additionally, the proposals advocate establishing a National Foreign Direct Investment Mandate to link foreign investments with local talent development, founding a permanent National Youth Economic Action Council for ongoing policy input, and fostering green entrepreneurship to broaden economic opportunities across demographics.
In his address, Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Mohammed Taufiq Johari underscored the need for economic policies that address immediate bread-and-butter issues rather than abstract concepts.
Citing findings from nationwide engagement tours across six zones, Dr. Taufiq noted that young Malaysians consistently raise three core concerns: affording the cost of living, job security over the next decade, and the availability of social safety nets during financial distress.
"Our job is to build a strong enough protection system so that young Malaysians do not have to struggle to become heroes just to survive," Dr. Taufiq said. "We raise the achievement ceiling, but we must also raise the floor so it does not collapse beneath us."
