Anwar warns students of toxic politics, urges them to uphold values

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has cautioned students aspiring to pursue careers in politics, urging them to uphold strong values and prioritize service-oriented attitudes, while warning of the toxic aspects of such a profession. Anwar explained that politics, while an art of governance, can also become toxic if politicians prioritize personal interests over the nation's well-being and engage in corruption and abuse of power.

He cited recent scandals like 1MDB and the mismanagement of Felda and Tabung Haji as examples of the issues facing Malaysia. Anwar emphasized the importance of politicians who are sincere, conscious, wise, and capable of educating the public based on facts. He argued that the country would benefit from politicians who can maintain honor and integrity, rather than those who would allow corruption to dominate the political arena.

In response to a question from a Form 6 student, Anwar announced that the government will provide an allowance for Form 6 students, a decision made after consulting with pre-university students. The finance minister stated that the allowance would be included in the 2027 budget, though the exact amount has not been disclosed, as it would depend on the government's financial capacity.