Intellect without morals creates scammers, warns Kelantan MB
Nassuruddin stressed that academic success must be balanced with personal development, warning that students may easily lose direction once they join university.
KOTA BHARU – Individuals who excel academically but lack moral grounding are at risk of becoming harmful to society, much like professional scammers.
According to Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud, the rise in cases involving highly skilled scammers, capable of deceiving senior officials, corporate figures and even national leaders, proves that intellect alone is not enough without strong ethical and religious guidance.
“Those involved in scams are intelligent, not foolish.
“They’ve managed to trick policemen and even leaders. This shows they’re misusing their intelligence," he said.
He made the remarks while speaking at the Kelantan State Outstanding Student Appreciation Ceremony held at Kota Darul Naim on Wednesday.
At the event, 12 high-achieving students, including four national-level award recipients for outstanding performance in the Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM) and seven 10 Mumtaz achievers in the Malaysian Higher Religious Certificate (STAM) 2024, each received an RM1,000 incentive.
Nassuruddin stressed that academic success must be balanced with personal development, warning that students may easily lose direction once they join university.
“In school, there are rules, discipline and a dress code. But at university, there’s a cultural shock, more freedom, more open friendships and that’s where many begin to drift,” he added.
He stressed the importance of instilling a strong foundation in religious practices, such as maintaining prayer, respecting parents and using the Quran as a guide in life.
“Failing in these areas can lead to misconduct, even in those who excel academically.
“We don’t want to produce students who succeed in exams but use their intelligence to harm society," he said.
He urged students to continue building excellence, character and integrity through their university years and beyond, becoming valuable assets to both the state and the nation.
“The state government is fully committed to supporting education through various forms of assistance, including Yayasan Kelantan Darulnaim (YAKIN) loans, which can be converted into scholarships for outstanding students,” he said.
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