GEORGE TOWN, Aug 28 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said young Malaysians should be allowed to speak freely and think critically rather than be controlled.

He said those aged 18 and above were already entitled to vote, so they should be allowed to discuss issues and express their views.

“These children are already 18 years old; they can vote. Why do you want to restrain them? Let them discuss,” he said.

“Will all their views be correct? No. Some may be wrong. But we discuss, we educate them with love. These are our children, our future.”

Anwar was responding to a question from a Form Six student at a meet-and-greet session held at the Teacher Education Institute (IPG) Tuanku Bainun campus, who asked for his advice to youths hoping to enter politics and about the challenges of political life.

He said political decisions shaped national policies, including education policy, and young people should understand that they had a role in discussions affecting their future.

He said he did not agree with the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA), which was introduced in the 1970s to restrict university students’ freedom.

“If they hit someone or steal someone’s money, there are laws. But if they give an opinion, listen,” he said.

He said the move to abolish UUCA was intended to give university students room to speak freely and develop creativity, critical judgement and independent views.

“That is why I abolished the Universities and University Colleges Act, which came into force this morning, to give children room to speak freely,” he said.

“I do not want to control them, because I want to educate children with creativity and innovation, with evaluation and critical views.”

Anwar said suppressing students’ views would only weaken society’s ability to judge political claims and public policies.

“Otherwise, it makes the people foolish,” he said.

“We see politicians speaking recklessly, ignorantly and without knowledge. They talk about economics and politics, and just follow people’s sentiments.”

He said political leaders must guide society through facts and knowledge rather than racial or communal sentiment.

“They go to the Malays and incite Malays to hate Indians. Go to the Indians and incite Indians to hate Chinese. We will not get anywhere with this,” he said.

Anwar said young people needed to be encouraged to develop the confidence to hold and express their convictions while learning to assess issues carefully.

“There must be what we always call a courage of conviction,” he said.

“There must be firmness, courage and confidence,” he added.

He said aspiring politicians needed integrity, courage and a genuine desire to defend the public’s interests.

“Why do you want to enter politics? You want to serve your people. You serve your people with integrity,” he said.

“You have to rid the country of excesses of corruption, of abuse of power.”

Anwar said the country needed more intelligent and compassionate people to join politics.

“We need more people like that, because if we leave it, those who will dominate politics are the groups with interests and the corrupt,” he said.

“Good people do not want to [enter politics], so others enter.”

He said leaders should not see public office as a means to gain personal wealth, citing his own decision not to take a salary as prime minister.

“I am not poor. The government provides a car, the government provides an aircraft, the government provides meal allowances,” he said.

“So there is no need to take the salary. Use that salary to help the people.”

He said this was not meant to portray himself as poor, but to show that leadership need not be motivated by money.

“Not everyone who wants to be a leader wants to become rich,” he said.

“Politics is an honourable profession if you make it honourable. It is a dirty, corrupt profession if you are influenced by those who are blatantly corrupt.”

He urged students considering politics to do so out of love for their community and confidence in Malaysia’s future.

“Make sure that you enter politics and work because you love this country and you believe in the future of this country,” he said.