Think as job creators, not job seekers, says Najib

Citing Facebook innovator Mark Zuckerberg and other young entrepreneurs who have created YouTube and Twitter, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said youth should not only think of themselves as job seekers, but also as would-be job creators.

Speaking before 100 students at Tohoku University here, Najib said all around the world, the young are inspiring others with their inventions, and are well-placed to take advantage of the constantly changing environment.

"Twenty-three years ago there were no websites. Now there are over one billion. Exploring and making the most of the online world is second nature to young people, as they have grown up with this technology – indeed, can probably hardly imagine life without it," he said.

Najib said youth drove innovation, citing Zuckerberg who started Facebook when he was a student at Harvard University, and by the age of 23 became a billionaire.

Back home, Najib said hiring a taxi has been revolutionised by a young Malaysian, and the MyTeksi company has spread to five other countries in Southeast Asia and likely to be listed soon.

"In Malaysia, the government recently launched a Youth Policy aimed at maximising the potential of all our young people," said Najib, adding that the government wanted to ensure that they have the skills necessary for Malaysia to achieve its goal of becoming a high income status country by 2020.

He said the government was already assisting young people financially to help them buy their first homes, as well as allocating funds to develop a youth city, to provide a comprehensive ecosystem for the young to increase their capabilities and progress in work, business and entrepreneurship, as well as to enjoy housing and recreational facilities.

"And we devoted 21 percent of our budget for this year to education. That is equivalent to 3.8 percent of our GDP - more than double the average of our neighbours. That is a huge investment. But it is for the future of our country," he said.

According to him, Malaysia’s emphasis on education went beyond its shores, saying that thousands of Malaysian students were studying overseas, with more than 2,200 (Malaysian) students currently studying in Japan.

After a dialogue session with the students, Najib met about 40 Malaysian students studying at Tohoku University, one of Japan’s most prestigious universities, and briefed them on the developments at home and measures taken by the Government to stengthen the economy and create jobs for graduates.

Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosman Mansor then left for home from the Sendai International Airport, ending a three-day official visit to Japan.

Rosmah had earlier visited the Hiyoriyama Memorial Monument, built to commemorate the devastating earthquake that had hit the northeast coast of Japan on March 11, 2011.

The biggest earthquake in 140 years triggered a 10-metre tsunami that swept away everything in its path, killing more than 15,000 people and leaving over 2,000 still missing.

According to Japan's Reconstruction Agency, four years after the quake, about 230,000 people who lost their homes are still living in temporary housing.

Rosmah also had launched a campaign to raise funds for the victims of the tsunami and earthquake, collecting RM4.3 million.

She also visited a temporary shelter which is still housing 60 families affected by the disaster.