{
  "id": 10101375,
  "title": "Wisdom for a weary Malaysia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/wisdom-for-a-weary-malaysia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2026/09/27/wisdom-for-a-weary-malaysia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The people of Malaysia are burdened by a heavy sense of weariness, weary of the relentless political games that have diverted focus and resources away from building a thriving economy and addressing the rising costs of living. The political landscape has become a whirlwind of realignments, conditional pardons, and state-level power struggles, leaving ordinary families struggling with mounting expenses and uneven development. A deep crisis of public trust has taken root, with Malaysians viewing politicians as self-serving actors primarily concerned with their own advancement.\n\nIn the midst of this turmoil, global leaders have turned to ancient texts for guidance, reminding modern states of timeless principles of statecraft and governance. One such example is India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil text, the Thirukkural, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has also drawn inspiration from the Thirukkural, citing its lessons on creating wealth, protecting it, and distributing it wisely for the welfare of the people.\n\nBased on these principles, the ancient Tamil text offers valuable insights for Malaysia's current political climate. Tiruvalluvar's work is divided into three main pillars: aram (justice/virtue/righteousness), porul (material prosperity/politics/governance), and inbam (love/joy/human connection). Applying these principles to Malaysia's governance could bring about a much-needed ethical counterweight to systemic failures. Leaders are encouraged to embody qualities such as courage, liberality, wisdom, energy, diligence, and learning, while remaining approachable and soft-spoken. The text emphasizes the importance of impartiality, safeguarding the dignity of every citizen, and avoiding divisive rhetoric that leaves communities feeling marginalized.\n\nKural 317 calls for leaders to refrain from causing pain to any living creature, even in thought, serving as a practical warning against the abuse of power and divisive rhetoric. The emphasis on justice, as outlined in Kural 317, translates to a commitment to an independent judiciary, fearless anti-corruption measures, and policies rooted in equal opportunity rather than racial patronage. Furthermore, Kural 385 emphasizes the importance of economic pragmatism and resource management, urging leaders to prioritize public welfare over elite accumulation. This means ensuring that national development projects serve the greater good, that collected taxes are used for public benefit, and that every ringgit spent is designed to uplift the people equitably. Ultimately, leadership should be about moral character and ethical duty, not just political survival or relentless power plays.",
  "summary": "Malaysians are weary of the political power plays roiling the nation; during such times it is wise to lean on ancient texts - such as the Thirukkural which has been praised by Tunku Abdul Rahman, Dr Ismail Hussein and Anwar Ibrahim.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Wisdom for a weary Malaysia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/wisdom-for-a-weary-malaysia-10103022",
        "published": "2026-09-27T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}