The government has been urged to put the 138 recommendations from the 2006 Higher Education Report (also known as the Zahid Report) in a timely schedule to ensure effective implementation so that Malaysian universities will become centres of educational excellence.

This was proposed by DAP deputy chairperson and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw at the briefing from the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) Review Committee in Parliament on Thursday.

The 138 recommendations includes the philosophy of higher education, reviewing the laws governing higher education such as the UUCA and project My Brain that is meant to produce 10,000 PhDs by 2020.

However, Tan noted that little government action has being taken in implementing this report as well as the Education Development 2001-2010 Report.

"Higher Education Minister Mustapa Mohamed must pay special attention by implementing these recommendations and placing them in timed schedules.

"We shall present definite proposals in amending the UUCA in line with the objective of turning the country into a world-class centre of educational excellence," he said in a statement today.

Other laws too

The veteran DAP MP also pointed out that other laws governing higher education must be amended.

"UUCA must be able to cope with the cross-fertilisation between Malaysian universities and leading international universities.

"The present number of foreign professors and lecturers of over 600 must be increased. The academic world that remains insular can only suffocate," Tan cautioned.

He added that beside the UUCA, other related laws must be amended to ensure that Malaysia's higher education system becomes vibrant and of world class by 2020.