SINTOK – “Most people consider the Malays to be a significantly underprivileged race. Poverty is a fundamental problem that is more profound and visible than other national traits, representing the biggest shortcoming that hinders progress and causes the race to lag behind.
“Impoverished in financial resources and material assets, lacking in frugality and aspiration, lacking in education and intellectual development, and hampered by limited cognitive abilities and elevated moral qualities, they cannot help but become stagnant and fall behind in the progress of nations.”
Such is the view of the late Tan Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, better known as Za’ba, regarding the Malay race and his timeless brilliant ideas.
Za’ba was honoured with the Timeless National Academia Figure award by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, at the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), in conjunction with the Za’ba Lecture Ceremony and the 2024 National Academy Day Celebration at UPSI on Saturday.
Anwar described Za’ba as a visionary, pioneering the concept of national awareness that transcends his time while also addressing the complexities of multi-dimensional poverty.
“Experiencing financial difficulties is common, but the situation becomes even more concerning when one lacks savings and feels hopeless.
“Is poverty the result of the people’s attitude?” “Why is it that the leadership is involved in corruption and power misuse, resulting in leakages that hinder the fight against poverty?” he said.
Anwar also expressed his gratitude to fellow academicians who have significantly contributed to the field of national education, reinforcing their role as the backbone of community and national development.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, announced that the Za’ba Lecture will coincide with the 2024 National Academia Day Celebration, which falls on 5 October, a day celebrated nationwide.
“Today not only commemorates Za’ba’s remarkable contributions, but also to his great ideas that encourage us to critically examine the disparities that exist within our current social and economic system, urging a thorough transformation.
“Za’ba believes that poverty encompasses not only material form but also mental limitations, thus urging a prudent and thorough approach to its eradication,” he said.
Efforts are underway to tackle poverty through quality education. This step aligns with the Ministry of Higher Education’s (MoHE) goal of fostering intellectual development and a balanced character through knowledge acquisition.
“I wish you all a Happy Academia Day and hope you continue to disseminate and share knowledge with the community in order to overcome intellectual poverty and attain numerous successes,” he said during the live broadcast of the programme.
The ceremony was viewed online by all academics at Universiti Utara Malaysia, including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Foad, from the SoIS Auditorium Hall, UUM, on Saturday.
