To keep talent, sell a M'sian dream
Samantha BellPublished: Jun 4, 2009 3:09 PM | Updated: Jun 4, 2009 4:18 PM
The government must try to sell a dream that Malaysian youths can make it in this country - that Malaysia is no longer a poor option - or risks losing more talent, said Tony Pua, MP for Petaling Jaya Utara.
"Kids grow up thinking they want to leave this country and work in America or elsewhere," he said this during a press conference yesterday.
The government must try to sell a dream that Malaysian youths can make it in this country - that Malaysia is no longer a poor option - or risks losing more talent, said Tony Pua, MP for Petaling Jaya Utara.
"Kids grow up thinking they want to leave this country and work in America or elsewhere," he said this during a press conference yesterday.
He (left) added that it is important to firstly sell a dream for youths to believe in involving in their own country. "How come good Malaysians who can contribute to their country can't get scholarships?" he asked.
The spotlight on lack of available scholarships to talented students, which has encouraged fierce debates annually in Malaysia, had for years led students to pursue their education in Australia, Singapore, or Hong Kong where financial assistance were made available.
This had resulted in the potential loss of talent to Malaysia as most of these students had chosen to work in the country of their sponsorship.
Pua's comment came when he was asked by a student during a forum preceding the Asia 21 Young Leaders summit at the Marriott Hotel yesterday. The forum, attended by about 150 youths and community members, focussed on the need to renew the scholarship and education systems in Malaysia.
Khairy Jamaluddin, MP for Rembau who is a panellist at the forum, said the crux of the scholarship issue was in "the allocation of resources".
To exemplify this, Khairy mentioned the allocation of resources in other areas include road construction (to nowhere, he jokes) and the recent roof collapse of the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Terengganu.
Put a stop on race-based approach
The panellists were also questioned on the possibility of one National School System, to contribute towards the goals of 1Malaysia and to put a stop to race-based distinction in the education system.
If a poll was conducted today, a majority vote to get rid of the vernacular schools would not exists, Khairy commented. He saw that the vernacular schools had contributed to "a democratic and diverse school system", which has been carefully and complexly constructed for everyone.
Removing the race category on all official forms ranging from bank loans to scholarship applications would complement the efforts of 1Malaysia, said Jacqueline Ann Surin, co-founder and editor of The NutGraph.
She explained that the older generation should provide structures such as tools and educational spaces to develop the talent, creativity, and leadership of the youths.
"Kids grow up thinking they want to leave this country and work in America or elsewhere," he said this during a press conference yesterday.
He (left) added that it is important to firstly sell a dream for youths to believe in involving in their own country. "How come good Malaysians who can contribute to their country can't get scholarships?" he asked. The spotlight on lack of available scholarships to talented students, which has encouraged fierce debates annually in Malaysia, had for years led students to pursue their education in Australia, Singapore, or Hong Kong where financial assistance were made available.
This had resulted in the potential loss of talent to Malaysia as most of these students had chosen to work in the country of their sponsorship.
Pua's comment came when he was asked by a student during a forum preceding the Asia 21 Young Leaders summit at the Marriott Hotel yesterday. The forum, attended by about 150 youths and community members, focussed on the need to renew the scholarship and education systems in Malaysia.
Khairy Jamaluddin, MP for Rembau who is a panellist at the forum, said the crux of the scholarship issue was in "the allocation of resources".
To exemplify this, Khairy mentioned the allocation of resources in other areas include road construction (to nowhere, he jokes) and the recent roof collapse of the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Terengganu. Put a stop on race-based approach
The panellists were also questioned on the possibility of one National School System, to contribute towards the goals of 1Malaysia and to put a stop to race-based distinction in the education system.
If a poll was conducted today, a majority vote to get rid of the vernacular schools would not exists, Khairy commented. He saw that the vernacular schools had contributed to "a democratic and diverse school system", which has been carefully and complexly constructed for everyone.
Removing the race category on all official forms ranging from bank loans to scholarship applications would complement the efforts of 1Malaysia, said Jacqueline Ann Surin, co-founder and editor of The NutGraph.
She explained that the older generation should provide structures such as tools and educational spaces to develop the talent, creativity, and leadership of the youths.
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