People need to adapt to modernisation — Mohd Shafie

KOTA KINABALU: The people need to be able to adapt to modernisation in order to keep up with today’s fast-paced environment, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said yesterday.

He explained that the inability to be ready for such rapid development could result in the people falling into despair.

“The fast pace of life today due to modernisation has impacted society in good ways by generating productive workers who act fast in any situation and as life demands.

“( However) this fast pace of life may be seen to be a problem by these people and this has brought about conflicting ideas on the meaning of happiness,” he said when opening the Asian Association of Indigenous and Cultural Psychology Conference here.

The text of his speech was delivered by Sabah Assistant Education and Innovation Minister Jenifer Lasimbang.

Mohd Shafie also expressed concern over the lack of cultural attributes and values among the people in achieving a meaningful modern life.

Therefore, he called on scholars and experts to share ideas that could help in building a high quality of life without sacrificing the people’s indigenous cultures and values.

“Today, we are in a race to meet the popular idea of a ‘standard’ way of living without realising we are starting to forget our own cultural roots. If the situation continues, societies of future generations will not be able to know and appreciate the beauty of their own culture that once signified the identity of its people,” he said. — Bernama