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 colonized, and not merely as tourist attractions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that visits to historical sites should not only focus on their physical beauty but should be accompanied by explanations that can provide an understanding of history and create awareness of the country's future. He recommended that young visitors to these areas should be exposed not just to their aesthetic appeal, but also to valuable lessons about unity and the importance of a free and independent nation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Fort Cornwallis, the Prime Minister remarked that history should be relayed through the experiences, sacrifices, and sufferings of the people, rather than solely through the narratives left by former colonizers. The conservation of Fort Cornwallis, he noted, is not intended to glorify colonialism but is aimed at providing the community with an opportunity to explore and learn from the country's bitter past.

Anwar highlighted the importance of reviving historical memories to instill understanding and expose the younger generation to the nation's own history. He stressed the need to reconstruct history in a way that is relevant to contemporary society and its future, rather than relying on the narratives imposed by past colonizers.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister pointed out that the history of colonialism serves as a lesson on the necessity of unity and internal strength to prevent a country's fate from being determined by external powers with strategic interests. He called on the current generation to uphold national peace, strengthen racial unity, and appreciate the sacrifices of those who came before them.