Kuala Lumpur: A moment from Malaysia’s Parliament has drawn wide attention online after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim quoted the Tamil classic Thirukkural during his speech.
Anwar cited the couplet “Thallaa vilaiyulum thakkaarum thaazhvilaa selvaarum servathu naadu” while presenting the 2027 Budget, using it to outline the qualities he said are needed for a strong nation.
The video of the Prime Minister speaking in Tamil and referencing the ancient text has been widely shared on social media.
This is not the first time Anwar has turned to Thirukkural in Parliament. During the 2023 Budget, he quoted “Iyattralum eettalum kaaththalum kaaththa vaguththalum valla tharasu.”
In the 2024 Budget speech, he again referenced the work with the couplet “Urupasiyum ovaappiniyum serupagaiyum searaa thiyalvathu naadu,” offering an explanation of its meaning.
