PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has proposed making the Putrajaya Idea Festival an annual event to inspire new ideas, foster innovation, and encourage creativity among the youth.
He said the festival could also attract not only youth but also the general public, allowing them to have differing opinions and explore ideas without hostility.
"This means the ideas we discuss form a broad framework that upholds noble values, including humanity and goodness.
"The nation must progress and progress with ideas.
"We express this within the broad framework of Madani, which signifies reformative ideas rooted deeply in our identity as a people—our values, culture, language, beliefs, and religious convictions.
"For me, this is a festival of ideas, inviting the younger generation and society to express that yes, it is okay to have differing opinions and to voice views.
"Ideally, we should share as many ideas as possible, whether in differing political perspectives, economic views, or geo-economic perspectives," Anwar said when officiating the Putrajaya Idea Festival.
He said the ideas expressed and incorporated into Madani signify their relevance to thought and life, as their sustainability holds no meaning if not grounded in faith in religion, the essence of life, humanity, and noble values.
The event is being held at Putrajaya International Convention Centre from Wednesday until Friday.
Also present were the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.