Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urges universities to balance AI advancement with ethics, culture, and human values, warning against becoming degree factories.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged universities to ensure that rapid technological advancement, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI), does not come at the expense of ethics, culture and human values.
Speaking at the launch of UCSI University’s new building and a Temu Anwar session today, Anwar stated that Malaysia’s push into digital transformation and data centre development must be matched by a strong foundation in moral responsibility. He stressed that education must develop both “intellect and character”.
Anwar cautioned higher education institutions against becoming “degree factories” that focus solely on certification at the expense of quality.
He warned that weak academic standards would jeopardise future generations and undermine national competitiveness.
“Universities must not become centres that only produce paper qualifications. They must uphold excellence and ensure genuine quality. The Higher Education Ministry has been instructed to closely monitor institutional standards.
“While we strive for academic excellence to ensure Malaysia emerges as a strong economic nation, we must remember that without values, such progress will inevitably lead to harm,” he added.
Anwar highlighted Malaysia’s growing status as a major destination for international students, adding that approximately 160,000 foreign students are currently enrolled in public and private universities.
“This reflects growing global confidence in Malaysia’s higher education system, but it also places a significant responsibility on institutions to maintain academic excellence,” he said.
The Prime Minister also addressed the persistent challenges of racism, religious extremism and social division, noting that even educated groups are not immune to these issues.
“We still see racism on campuses, in society and even worse, within the political system. This is a major battle because the appeal of race and religious fanaticism is so strong that even the most educated can become trapped in it,” Anwar said.
He called for Malaysia to mature into a united nation where differences are respected rather than divisive.
“Students and academics must see themselves first as human beings and Malaysians,” he said, adding that universities play a pivotal role in shaping national unity.
While acknowledging progress in AI and industrial investment, Anwar insisted that technological development must be guided by ethical values. He argued that education should balance three core elements: knowledge, wisdom and morality.
“Information alone does not guarantee wisdom. Cultural identity, ethics, and character formation must remain central even as Malaysia advances in science and technology,” he added.
