Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says historical sites should educate young Malaysians about unity, independence and the sacrifices made during colonial rule.
GEORGE TOWN: Historical sites need to function as educational spaces to help the younger generation understand the value of unity, the price of independence and the suffering of the people when the country was colonised, and not merely as tourist attractions.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said visits to historical sites should not only focus on their physical beauty, but should instead be accompanied by explanations that can provide an understanding of history and create awareness of the country’s future.
“I recommend that if possible, ensure that in every visit by young people to this area, they are exposed not only to its beauty, but also lessons on the value of unity and the value of a free and independent country,” he said when speaking at the opening ceremony of Fort Cornwallis here today.
The Prime Minister said history should be told based on the experiences, sacrifices and suffering of the people, not solely through the perspective or narrative left by the former colonisers.
He said the conservation of Fort Cornwallis was not aimed at glorifying colonialism, but rather at providing the community with an opportunity to explore the country’s bitter history and learn from it.
“We can revive this memory and use it to instill understanding and expose the younger generation to our own history.
“We need to rebuild that history, not based on the pointers of the former colonisers, but so that it is relevant to our society and future,” he said.
Anwar said the history of colonialism taught the people that without unity and internal strength, the fate of a country could be determined by external powers that prioritise their strategic interests.
Therefore, he said the current generation has a responsibility to defend national peace, strengthen racial unity and appreciate the sacrifices of the previous generation.
