P. RAMLEE'S WORKS CAN SERVE AS REFERENCE IN ADDRESSING CURRENT MORAL CHALLENGES

IPOH, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The creative works of film great (seniman agung) Tan Sri P. Ramlee contain profound philosophical thoughts that remain relevant and should serve as a reference in addressing current moral challenges and social changes.

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Board of Directors member Datuk Seri Ahmad Burak said the late P. Ramlee was a community educator through art, with every piece showcasing sharp social criticism, humanitarian messages and moral teaching presented in a relaxed yet effective manner.

"Dialogues, like in the movie Anak Bapak, clearly illustrated an emphasis on trust and integrity.

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"The message that once trust is lost, it is difficult to regain, thereby proving how art can be used to instil values in society,” he said at the launch of the 'Pemikiran P. Ramlee’ Seminar at the Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Campus near Tanjung Malim recently.

Ahmad, who is also the president of Persatuan Alumni Suluh Budiman, said P. Ramlee's works are not merely entertainment, but an educational medium that is loaded with values of trust, integrity and the formation of national identity.

He said that P. Ramlee's movies, like Bujang Lapok, Anakku Sazali, Antara Dua Darjat and Tiga Abdul, also showcased aspects of discipline, responsibility, mutual respect, the importance of knowledge and family ties - in line with the concept of holistic education that covers the physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual.

He added that the seminar, organised by the Malay Literature Programme, Department of Malay Language and Literature of UPSI, in collaboration with Persatuan Penulis Budiman Malaysia, Persatuan Alumni Suluh Budiman, Persatuan Persuratan Melayu and the Penang P. Ramlee Fan Club, examined aspects of educational thought, social criticism and humanistic philosophy in the late actor's works.

Penang P. Ramlee Fan Club president, Tan Sri Mohd Yussof Latiff, said P. Ramlee must not be seen merely as an entertainer but as a thinker and educator of society through art who recorded philosophy, values and social criticism so subtly that it continues to serve as a reference throughout time.

"As someone who has long followed his legacy, I always emphasise that P. Ramlee did not just entertain, but shaped the attitudes, manners and thinking of the Malay community,” he said.

He added that the educational and humanitarian values in P. Ramlee's works are timeless and important for the younger generation to understand as the basis for building national identity. 

"Such seminars are extremely important for bringing together scholars and art enthusiasts, as well as to instil awareness that art is education.

"I hope studies on the thoughts of P. Ramlee continue to be expanded in UPSI and other institutions, and be used as teaching materials in arts, language and education courses,” he added.

-- BERNAMA