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KOTA KINABALU: The challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic call for more research work by the academic fraternity, particularly in fields that can further help jump-start the country’s economy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pix) said.
The prime minister said that although academics tend to focus on research work and developing their expertise, there is still a lot of room in which to work for the benefit of society.
“In this context, the direction that academics take must also be in line with the challenges faced by local communities and society in general.
“Academics must begin to change their way of thinking, in this case from ‘knowledge for knowledge’ to ‘knowledge for society and the nation. We are facing challenges … the Covid-19 pandemic, economic recovery efforts, and the implementation of various government agendas in security, health, tourism, and for the prosperity of the nation.
“All of these are among the challenges that need to be paid attention to, especially from the academic fraternity,” he said in a meeting with students from Sabah public institutions of higher education at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) here today. , where he also handed over the title of Yayasan Tenaga Nasional. My Brighter Future (MyBF) scholarship offer letters.
Also present were the Minister of Higher Education Datuk Dr. Noraini Ahmad, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr. Mazlan Yusoff, the President of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, and the President and CEO of TNB, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
In tackling these challenges, Muhyiddin expressed confidence that local tertiary institutions are on par with those abroad, but added that they must support this stature by standing out in their fields as well.
He urged local academics, including those at UMS, to devise programs that help present their work and experience as a source of reference.
“Lecturers and professors must present greater contributions not only in terms of teaching, learning, research and marketing, but also lend their expertise for the benefit of society and the nation.
“Their expertise and contributions must go beyond the campus walls so that society benefits as well.
“They must be prepared to become experts in their fields and make the country proud with their achievements. We lack those who are willing to do this and that is why we have yet to produce our own ‘Nobel Prize’, ”Muhyiddin said.
Muhyiddin challenged tertiary institutions to work on activities capable of producing Nobel prizes that will become the pride of the nation and the world.
To make this dream come true, he called on the Ministry of Higher Education to work together with tertiary institutions to review and strengthen the plans and programs that had been developed before this so that more academics can be produced.
At the event, Muhyiddin also witnessed the signing of a collaboration note between the government and TNB on the implementation of the MyBrighter Future (MyBF) program.
The program prioritizes students from Bumiputera and also those from low-income non-Bumiputera families across the country.
To date, a total of 315 Sabah students have received sponsorship from the program. –Named
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