A good afternoon to all.I am very happy to be here with you today for what must be an exciting occasion for many of you. The best part of any contest is the prizewinning and i consider myself fortunate to be able to be with the prizewinners of the Perdana Leadership Foundation’s essay contest.
As Chancellor of the Multimedia University, I am deeply involved in the development of thousands of young men and women, not just in terms of their academic achievement but also in terms of their character and leadership skills. I think that all of you will agree that the ability to communicate and motivate is an essential component of leadership but what is often overlooked, in favour of charisma and oratory skills, is the ability to communicate in writing.
But it is the ability to write, and to write well, that allows leaders to communicate ideas, vision and worldview in a form that can be referred to even in the leader’s absence. A big part of leadership after all has to do with changing mindsets and perceptions, and the written word is a powerful, far-reaching weapon of influence. In many cases, the ideas and concepts carried through writing can last generations, fueling debates and discussions long after its printing date.
An example that is very close to home is of course “The Malay Dilemma” which was written in 1970 but which is still being referred to and argued about today, almost forty years later. There have been books and articles written about the book but what is more important is that the words that were written forced fresh examination of the state of the Malay race and encouraged a new way of thinking.
Students, ladies and gentlemen:
The ability to write well is a craft just like any other. You become better at a craft by learning from example: by reading good writing produced by other people, and by constant practice: the more you write, the easier it becomes to articulate your thoughts to paper.
So, plenty of reading – of good books and intelligent, thought-provoking articles – and plenty of writing are the prescription for those who want to be good writers.
I believe this contest has encouraged both reading and writing. I congratulate everyone who participated and hope that you found the process of researching and writing out the essay topics a mind-opening experience.
I believe the topics, which centred on youth leadership and your hopes for the future, invited deeper reflection into your present and future role in nation-building. As the saying goes, “youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow but are the partners of today”.
I congratulate once more the participants of the essay contest and wish to commend the Perdana Leadership Foundation for successfully organising this second essay contest.
To all the students here, I wish you all the best in your present and future endeavours. I am sure that your parents and teachers will do whatever they can to help you achieve your goals in life.
Thank you
