WEDNESDAY, 2 DECEMBER – The government should formulate a policy to select one or two public universities in Malaysia and make those universities amongst the top 10 or 20 best in the world.

This was said by the Chairman of the Board of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Tun Zaki Tun Azmi when delivering his speech at the Chairman of the Board of Directors Council Conference (MPLPU) at the Pacific Sutera, Sutera Harbour, yesterday.

He said, if we looked at those developed countries such as United Kingdom and United States of America, not all universities in those countries share the same standards.

“What if we select one or two public universities in Malaysia and develop them to become the best.

In addition, a university should not be an expert in all areas, but only choose one or two fields and keep on ‘soaring upwards’ in that field,” he said.

Citing the example of the National Heart Institute (IJN) that is famous among heart specialists in the world, Malaysia has only one heart institute and the government has always been chanelling financial resources to make it the best heart hospital.

“If the government set up another three or four IJN, we might not necessarily achieve our direction and in the end the institute woould not be able to leap forward,” he added.

The ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Secretary (Development), Ministry of Education (MoE), Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus, who represented the Secretary General of the ministry, Datuk Seri Ir Dr Zaini Ujang. – (fl)