Amidst modern scientific advancements, artificial intelligence and rapidly changing digital landscape, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has given a very serious and far-reaching message to the religious and social leadership. Addressing a grand international function organized at the prestigious educational and Islamic institute 'Markazhu Sakfatthi Sunniyya' located in Karanthoor, near the historical cultural center of Kerala, Kozhikode, the Malaysian Prime Minister bluntly called upon the religious scholars, clerics and thinkers around the world not to make the mistake of turning a blind eye to the new ground truths, technological inventions and AI of the modern era. After being honored with the prestigious 'Sheikh Abubakar Foundation Excellence Award' by Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musaliar, General Secretary of 'All India Sunni Jame Iyyathul Ulema' and India's leading Muslim religious leader, Anwar Ibrahim clearly said that conservatism and technological ignorance can marginalize any society in the future global race. Without understanding of modern technology and AI, society will become mere tools of foreign powers. Sharing his deep concern and vision on the unprecedented pace of digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned in very strong words that if our traditional scholars and the new generation do not deeply understand the cutting-edge science, we will unknowingly move towards intellectual and economic slavery. He cautioned the gathering and said that no society can protect its sovereignty without acquiring knowledge, research and technical mastery. If we do not master the fundamentals of algorithms, machine learning, data analytics and generative AI, we will become mere tools in the hands of foreign powers, global tech giants and multinational corporations, which they will use to undermine our cultural resolve, independent thinking and collective intentions. He stressed that we have to make modern knowledge and high expertise our priority, but at the same time strike an unwavering balance of protecting our spiritual faith, human dignity and basic moral values. Emotional opening of the speech with 'Enthanu Varthamanam': Malaysia's historical trade relations with Kerala and Malabar The Malaysian Head of State began his address with the typical Malayalam idiom 'Enthanu Varthamanam' (How are you) while paying respect to the local Malayali culture, which won the hearts of thousands of audience and delegates present in the auditorium. He underlined that the South-East Asian country of Malaysia and Kerala of South India, especially the historic Malabar Coast, have centuries-old maritime, trade, cultural and familial ties. Anwar Ibrahim expressed special gratitude to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi for making his important visit smooth and uninterrupted and shared from the stage that he himself has reached Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musliyar with a very cordial and positive message from the Prime Minister Modi. On this important international prestigious platform, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) State President Panakkad Sadikali Shihab Thangal, former Kerala Industries Minister PK Kunhalikatti and many senior politicians, MPs and diplomats met the Malaysian Prime Minister at a high level. Presenting a rare handwritten manuscript of 'Sahih al-Bukhari' At the conclusion of the brainstorming ceremony on bilateral relations and education reforms, Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musaliar gifted an extremely rare and engraved handwritten manuscript of 'Sahih al-Bukhari', the world's most authentic and recognized collection of hadith, to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This historic gift was accepted with great respect by the Malaysian Prime Minister and described it as a symbol of the cultural and spiritual bridge between India and Malaysia. This was followed by a grand formal state dinner organized in the Markaz complex in the honor of Prime Minister Ibrahim, in which detailed and meaningful discussions were held on key issues like India-Malaysia relations, expansion of modern higher education in South Asia, youth participation in technical institutions and promotion of digital literacy based on moral values.
