BUKIT MERTAJAM: Exploring new knowledge in education must be balanced with the application of values and ethics, especially among the youth in this country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

He warned that the country would be tainted by failure in governance if the principle of truth was not prioritised.

He said moral decay was the root cause of poor governance, abuse of power, and corruption.

As such, he urged the Education Ministry to emphasise both educational excellence and the incorporation of values, ethics, and principles of truth within the school curriculum.

"We must remember that while exploring new knowledge, we are reaching for the sky and grasping new fields of knowledge.

"But it will be a mistake if we leave behind our traditional values, culture and religion.

"As such, we must find a balance between reaching for the sky while staying rooted on the ground with good values. This is our challenge.

"Education is the assimilation of knowledge and with it, we must also have the assimilation of good values," he said during a visit to High School Bukit Mertajam here today.

It was a nostalgic experience for Anwar to return to his alma mater, where he studied for three years.

Present were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/1098819/balance-exploring-knowledge-values-and-ethics