Malaysia wants to be best in the field of knowledge in 2050 - Ahmad Zahid

Malaysia not only wants to be among the top 20 nations in the world in the economic field by the year 2050, but also the best in the field of knowledge.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said by that year, the country's universities not only had to be in the best position in the world, but also capable of producing intellectuals of world standard.

"We want intellectuals who can write books and carry out researches that can be translated into various languages and receive Nobel Prizes in specific fields of knowledge.

"We want our officers at the various agencies as well as the innovations carried out to be at the global level," he said when delivering a talk entitled 'The Culture of Knowledge is the Thrust of National Strength' (Budaya Ilmu Teras Kekuatan Negara) at the Intan Public Policy Ministerial Forum Series (IPPMFS) 2017 here today.

He said that by that year (2050) the country was targeting to produce administrators and professionals in the various fields who were capable of competing at the international level.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid urged civil servants to make knowledge as a culture based on the elements of emotion, spirit and wisdom so that government services could be delivered to the people to meet the current reality.

He said that any knowledge gained at the higher level would not be useful if they were not translated for adoption in the daily routine.

"Civil servants represent the pulse of the country's development, but if the knowledge possessed could not be applied in the civil service then, the government's aspiration to implement the policies launched would be affected," he said.

Meanwhile, at the media conference after the event, the Deputy Prime Minister advised certain quarters to not use knowledge to insinuate in the form of satire that would offend other people.

He said although this might be allowed in some other cultures, it was unsuitable for adoption in this country.

He said this when asked to comment on the caricature concerning PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia which was published in the Nanyang Siang Pau news portal and daily.

Commenting on the criticism by the opposition on the appointment of Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein as the Minister With Special Functions at the Prime Minister's Department, Ahmad Zahid said it was the attitude of the opposition which always disputed any action by the government.

"We just do the job, what is important is our sincerity...I too have been disputed previously but I ignored them and continued to carry out my responsibility," he said. -- Bernama