Deputy Minister Dr Zulkifli Hasan urges enlightened Malaysian society to navigate digital challenges, emphasising MADANI values and ethical judgment.
BUTTERWORTH: Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan has called for an enlightened Malaysian society to navigate the increasingly complex challenges of the digital era.
He warned that technologies like artificial intelligence are creating profound uncertainties, making public wisdom and ethical judgment more crucial than ever.
“The primary challenge today is ignorance,” Zulkifli told Bernama after officiating the MADANI dan Keamanan Global: Harmoni Dalam Kepelbagaian forum.
“We are flooded with information, but many are unable to distinguish between good and bad, especially with the proliferation of false and misleading content.”
He emphasised the need for an enlightened society that can not only discern right from wrong but embodies moral and ethical values in daily life.
“This is the very essence of the MADANI concept,” he said.
The forum was held in conjunction with the 19th National Convention of WADAH at Dewan al Ansar, Masjid al Muhajirin Seberang Jaya.
Zulkifli noted that choosing Permatang Pauh as the forum’s location was highly significant, recalling the Permatang Pauh Declaration of September 1998.
He described this declaration as a pivotal starting point for the struggle grounded in ethical and moral values.
Throughout the three years of MADANI’s implementation, these values have proven crucial in fostering sustainability, compassion and societal well-being.
Malaysia has progressed steadily on the right track with stable economic performance and increased investment, he added.
The governance system has shown stronger emphasis on humanistic values under the MADANI framework.
Held under the theme Malaysia Memimpin: Agenda Islah, Ketahanan Tamadun dan Tajdid Ummah, the WADAH-organised forum attracted over 500 participants.
Attendees included civil society movement leaders, community figures, religious scholars, academics and professors.
The forum highlighted discourses on diversity, the culture of peace, and the role of MADANI values in a global context.
It drew on Malaysia’s experience as a multicultural nation to explore these themes.
Community leaders from Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand were also present at the event. – Bernama
