Social Ills

Looking at the numerous social ills besetting our Nation, it is becoming more evident that the role of the family institution needs to be given greater emphasis in addressing these social problems.

Malaysians need to be constantly reminded on the importance of the family’s role not only in tackling social ills but also in national development.

What is most fundamental is to strengthen the family institution as the core of a healthy and stable society in the fight against social and moral decay.

Moral decay is caused by the erosion of moral and ethical values which can only be overcome not by laws or regulations but by upgrading the quality of family life with emphasis on discipline and good moral behaviour.

Parents must be increasingly concerned about the quality of family life and must constantly take steps to inculcate in their children the basic moral values needed to build the foundation of strong, stable, cohesive and ethical-conscious society.

My view has always been that economic growth must be balanced by social and moral development for I believe the yardstick to growth is a balance between economic growth and moral well-being.

It is meaningless to have dynamic economic growth with improved living standards and per capita income when the moral values, quality of life and family development do not grow proportionately.

Family development and family empowerment are essential in the upbringing of children, educating and guiding them to grow up as useful and positive citizens to take on the challenges of nation-building.

The power and potential of the family in the fight against social ills afflicting our nation’s youth is much greater and more meaningful than all the might of all the enforcement agencies we can muster to tackle our social problems.

For while law enforcement is essential, more important still is our ability to deny our homes and communities access to social problems through the strength and the power of the family.

Empowering the families to undertake the tasks and responsibilities towards tackling social problems must include inter alia the inculcation of parenting skills and motivating families to be interested and involved in the development of their children.

Parents must equip themselves with proper skills to cope with the changes in the family institution and the quality of life as a result of the country’s rapid economic development.

The attitude and value system that a family adopts forms the basis of a strong, stable and happy family.

Positive family values have to be instilled and nurtured in all members of the family to ensure that children can grow up with good habits and character-building values to face the multifarious challenges of the future.

Families as the most reverted units of our communities must be developed and made strong to resist succumbing to social ills.

If our nation’s social and moral issues cannot be effectively addressed, we will encounter major and serious obstacles in achieving Vision 2020.

The aim of Vision 2020 is not only to make Malaysia a fully industrialized nation in the economic sense but also to ensure it is fully developed from all dimensions particularly from the moral, ethical and caring aspects.

We must also be fully developed in terms of national unity and social cohesion, in terms of social justice, political stability, quality of life including family life, social and spiritual values and above all, national pride and confidence.