Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today stressed that Malaysia's pursuit of economic growth, technological advancement and public policies must be anchored in humanity, with development aimed at uplifting people's dignity and well-being rather than merely boosting economic indicators.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar highlighted that the world is entering an era of rapid technological transformation driven by artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology. He emphasized that while Malaysia must remain competitive and open to investment, economic life should be connected to a moral purpose. He stated, "To reclaim humanity is to recover a simple but too often neglected truth. The economy is a means, not an end in itself," during his keynote address at the Humane Economy Global Discourse (HEGD) 2026.

Also present at the event were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr. Zulkifli Hasan and Chairman of Forum Ekonomi Manusiawi (FEM) and HEGD 2026 director Prof Datuk Dr. Saadiah Mohamad. Anwar noted that while economic indicators such as growth, investment, exports, productivity, and fiscal discipline remained important, governments should also consider whether development broadens opportunities, strengthens communities, and enables people to live with dignity.

The Prime Minister pointed out that many people, particularly young Malaysians, were increasingly concerned about whether education systems could prepare them for future employment and whether technological advancements, including AI, would empower workers or replace them. He mentioned that families continued to face rising living costs, while farmers, fishermen, and small entrepreneurs questioned whether economic development would benefit them or leave them behind.

Anwar underscored that these concerns were universal human issues beyond an economic agenda. He reiterated the MADANI Government's commitment to anti-corruption efforts and governance reforms aimed at centering human development in policymaking while balancing technological progress with cultural values and traditions. Calling on governments, businesses, educators, and young people to play their respective roles, the Prime Minister asserted that nation-building required integrity, responsibility, and collective action. "A nation rises not merely because it has highways, buildings, technology, or financial resources. It rises when it has a serious understanding of justice, knowledge, responsibility, and the future," he concluded.