Anwar Calls For Balance Between Technology Mastery And Islamic Values

KUALA NERUS, April 13 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Muslims in the country to strengthen their mastery of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), without neglecting traditional values and the teachings of the Quran.

He said the acquisition of new knowledge is a critical preparation to face current global challenges, while ensuring that Muslims remain firmly grounded in their religious principles.

“We must reach for the skies through mastery of new knowledge such as AI and information technology, but at the same time, the foundation of tradition and Islamic values must not be abandoned.

“This is the preparation needed to break barriers that hinder our progress,” he said when officiating the 1447H/2026M National Quran Recitation and Memorisation Assembly (MTHQK) here tonight.

Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

On the global situation, Anwar said conflicts in Gaza, southern Lebanon and attacks on Iran should serve as important lessons on the need for preparedness in knowledge and technology.

He said decades of violence by the Zionist Israeli regime showed that without strong faith, character and technological capability, Muslims would continue to face setbacks.

“Previously, attacks by Israel and its ally, the United States, were almost impossible to counter. Only now are we seeing the emergence of new strength, through resilience and determination, coupled with technological sophistication,” he said.

Meanwhile, the prime minister stressed the need to reform the national education system so that it remains rooted in tradition while seriously exploring new fields and technologies.

He also said that colonial systems across the Muslim world succeeded in dismantling old strengths without the ability to build new ones. 

MTHQK 2026, themed ‘Kalam Ilahi Tradisi Diwarisi’, features 108 contestants, comprising 14 male reciters (qari), 14 female reciters (qariah) and 80 participants in the memorisation category, competing over six days from today until April 18.

The competition includes two main categories: recitation (qari and qariah) and three hafazan (memorisation) categories. 

In line with digitalisation efforts, this year’s event introduces enhancements, including the use of the eMTHQ system as the main competition management platform, as well as the application of AI in the ‘ibrah’ segment.

Improvements to the competition format for both recitation and memorisation categories have also been implemented to raise the level of challenge for participants.

-- BERNAMA