Panelists and moderator

On 6^th May 2008, Perdana Leadership Foundation hosted the seventh Perdana Discourse Series, this time on the topic, “National Sovereignty”. Over 200 participants comprising students from higher learning institutions, youth organisations as well as individuals participated in this seventh Discourse. YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and YABhg Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Binti Haji Mohd Ali were the guests of honour at the Discourse.

In his keynote speech, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, explained that the concept of the nation did not exist during the old days as Europe and Asia were divided into small fiefs, principalities, and dukedoms governed by the local chiefs. It was not until the Malayan Union was formed that Malaysia or the Malay states united to form the Malayan nation state. The same thing happened in many other areas of the world that over time, there seemed to be a movement towards unity, towards bringing people of the same race and language group together.

At the rostrum: Tan Sri Dato' Azman Hashim

It was a useful historical overview, and Tun Dr Mahathir patiently answered the many questions that members of the audience directed to him.

The topic was plumbed in greater depth at the panellist session following the tea break, where Professor Shad Saleem Faruqi from the Law Faculty, UiTM, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, former Cabinet Minister and Nurul Ikhlas Binti Abdul Hadi, a student, were given the opportunity to deliver their perspectives on the topic as well as Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s keynote speech. Prof Shad Saleem Faruqi discussed national sovereignty from the academic and law perspective, while Tan Sri Sanusi entertained the audience with his political take on the topic. Nurul gave a refreshing, idealistic view of national sovereignty and all three panellists had their share of questions at the end of the session.

PLF scholar Dato' Yusuf Hasan presenting his thesis to Dr Mahathir

After the speech and the panel discussions (and lunch), it was time for the participants to proffer their opinions on national sovereignty in their respective, randomly assigned teams. Each team was facilitated by a member of UiTM’s academic faculty, and the participants analysed and debated the importance of, as well as threats to, national sovereignty in Malaysia. The resolutions of each team were then presented by the team leaders at a plenary session convened following the break out session. As most of the participants were university students, their ideas were indicative of what Malaysian youth thought of national sovereignty.

Jointly organised by Perdana Leadership Foundation and the Institute of Quality and Knowledge Advancement of UiTM, and sponsored by Proton, the Perdana Discourse Series is a one-day event where a keynote presenter will speak to selected clusters of audience on a pre-determined topic, addressing its definition and tracing issues like policies, strategies and possible models used during the tenure of the past Prime Ministers.

The proceedings of the Discourse will be produced in a monograph in time for the next Discourse.