00:06As we have seen, no one can deny the fact that we live in a period of remarkable human achievement.
00:18We speak now of artificial intelligence, of renewable energy, of advanced manufacturing,
00:26biotechnology, and new economic frontiers.
00:30In fact, we are proud.
00:33I think this weekend or early next week, we're launching the National AI Office for Malaysia.
00:41We continue to advance.
00:45But we must not avoid a fundamental question.
00:55Because many of us, particularly the young, are equally anxious.
01:02They wonder whether the educational system and tertiary education will land them in a more meaningful job.
01:15And the workers will continue to ask whether technology will empower them or replace them.
01:24Families continue to struggle with the cost of living.
01:28Farmers, fishermen, small entrepreneurs ask whether development will include them or bypass them.
01:38These are universal human concerns.
01:42Beyond an economic agenda, but touches on the fundamental issue of humanity.
01:50This is not a call to reject modernity, enterprise, markets, or technology.
01:59Malaysia, to survive, must remain competitive, productive, and open to investment.
02:08But economic life must once again be connected to a moral purpose.
02:14And this is a major challenge.
02:18To reclaim humanity is to recover a simple but too often neglected truth.
02:26The economy is a means, not an end in itself.
02:32Its purpose is not merely to produce higher numbers, greater consumption, or larger concentration of wealth,
02:39but to enable people to live with dignity, security, purpose, and hope.
02:46It means asking before every major decision whether growth widens opportunity or narrows it.
02:57Whether it strengthens families and the communities or leaves them more vulnerable.
03:03And whether it treats human beings as partners in development or merely as instruments or production.
03:14Believe me, these questions are real and tough.
03:24In the next month or so, I'm going to grapple with formulating the budget for next year.
03:32Early for early October.
03:33And, alhamdulillah, despite these pressures, I've not lost sight of this fundamental question.
03:47That we encapsulate it in the Madani framework.
03:52That the budget, growth, economic policies, semiconductor strategy, energy transition, bridges of transformation,
04:08cannot ignore our attempt to restore the moral purpose of governance and development.
04:20It is not a slogan to be placed on banners.
04:26It must be reflected in policy, institutions, and conduct.
04:34Sustainability means that we do not pass environmental, financial, and social reforms or burdens to future generations.
04:44Innovations, innovation must enlarge human capabilities rather than deepen exclusion.
04:52Easier said than done.
04:54It can be formulated in Jomo Sundaram's thesis, but be rest assured.
05:02It's a tough call.
05:05Prosperity, how do we translate prosperity into better wages?
05:14Meaningful work, affordable housing, accessible healthcare, quality education, thriving communities, and genuine mobility.
05:26To the young, or a number of them, more ladies than men, it doesn't matter.
05:36Now, to my young, my children, gathered here, I say, do not surrender to cynicism.
05:48Some may say that Mahdani is too philosophical, too abstract, or too difficult to implement.
05:58Some, many gathered here, I can mention these two difficult scholars with me, Jomo and Zia.
06:11I've seen them, and understand that impatience.
06:16But every great civilization was built upon a moral and intellectual foundation.
06:26That we cannot fail.
06:30No society rises merely because it has highways, buildings, technology, or financial resources.
06:38It rises when it has serious understanding of human philosophy, of justice, of knowledge, of responsibility, and of the future.
06:50This will not win votes in this Milan.
06:57But, it will save a generation.
07:08For Muslims, the language of khalifah means, or reminds us, that human beings, khalifatullah fil ard, are entrusted with responsibility
07:22on earth.
07:23For wider global community, the message is equally clear.
07:31Every person is a steward of something larger than themselves, of knowledge, community, the environment, and the future of humanity.
07:49So, of course, I'm not giving an excuse, but thank you for this initiative, Sandhya, because you do not need
07:59to wait for the government.
08:01For more information, you must initiate, pressure, and not only support, but choose to critically assess the performance of governments.
08:18What is important is you must act, and the government must act.
08:24A nation is transformed when teachers, lecturers, teach with purpose.
08:35Entrepreneurs build with integrity.
08:38Our civil servants are the people.
08:40Bureaucrats, or civil servants, serve with honor.
08:44Businesses invest in people.
08:48Scholars speak truthfully.
08:52Citizens care for their communities.
08:56And the young people dare to believe.
09:00The young, believe that a better society is possible, inshaAllah.
09:07Now the human economy we seek is one with a higher ambition, to create wealth without losing wisdom, to innovate
09:18without abandoning compassion and ihsan, to compete without destroying solidarity and grow without leaving humanity behind.
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