The National Council of Professors (MPN) is now under the Prime Minister's Department, said MPN chairperson prof emeritus Zakri Abdul Hamid.            

He said the decision was made in a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday.

He said it was conducted in accordance with the MPN's role in addressing issues across a range of ministries, including sectors involving security, national integration and the cost of living.   

In addition, MPN could also provide inputs and indirectly don the role of an adviser to the Prime Minister to resolve current issues in the country, he said.    

However, the Ministry of Education will be seen as an entity that is important and a critical partner for the development of MPN, Zakri said at a press conference after an MPN dialogue together with Second Education Minister Idris Jusoh in Putrajaya, yesterday.        

MPN membership now exceeds 2,000 people comprising professors from public higher education institutions and the private sector.             

- Bernama