KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Professionals must play a greater role in boosting productivity, strengthening governance and ensuring Malaysia’s development is driven by high levels of expertise and efficiency, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said a country’s progress depended not only on economic growth but also on a strong professional workforce capable of improving productivity and governance.
“It is not merely about driving growth and ensuring higher productivity, but also ensuring better governance in the country,” he said at the Professional Conference and Exhibition 2026 (PROFEX 2026) and Malaysia Professional Day here today.
The event is a national platform bringing together Malaysia’s professional bodies, government, industry leaders, academia, government agencies, private companies, students and emerging talents.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said close cooperation among policymakers and those responsible for implementation, including political leaders, civil servants and professionals, was crucial for the country to move quickly as one team.
The Prime Minister said the professionals also had a responsibility to help eliminate practices and cultures detrimental to the country and must be bold and prepared to reject corruption and abuse of power.
He said professional expertise and specialisation were increasingly important in raising productivity amid rapid developments in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and digital transformation.
However, he cautioned against professionals becoming so narrowly focused on their respective fields that they failed to collaborate with or understand other disciplines.
“Specialisation is a necessity, but do not let it become the ‘barbarism of specialisation’,” he said, stressing the importance of integration and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Anwar said Malaysia’s professional community drew strength from its diversity across disciplines, communities and regions, which should be harnessed to strengthen the country.
“We must learn to bring these strengths together to build a stronger and more resilient unity,” he said.
Anwar also stressed that professionalism should be grounded in integrity, justice and responsibility to society rather than technical excellence alone.
Professionals, he said, should also be willing to speak up and play their part in ensuring the country was well governed.
Meanwhile, Anwar announced that Sept 29 would be observed annually as Malaysia Professional Day, saying the initiative would bring together the strengths of the country’s professional bodies.
He said the designation was in line with efforts to strengthen cooperation and integration among professionals in supporting Malaysia’s transformation and future.
“When Sept 29 was proposed as Malaysia Professional Day, I agreed because there is sound reasoning and wisdom behind it,” he added.
-- BERNAMA