DPM says government focus on education helped the nation, other countries

TOKYO: The government's focus on education development has not only helped her population in developing the nation but has also assisted other countries to emulate similar success, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Improvements in the national education system was the country's biggest investment, so as to produce students with knowledge, skills and expertise to assist in the country's development, he added.
The system has produced many intellectuals in almost all fields such as doctors and engineers and that is a reason why Malaysia has progressed into an almost developed nation.
A blueprint was developed for the sake of the future of Malaysian children who were invaluable assets as the nation's progress would be placed in their hands, he said.
He said what was important was the final goal of the implementation of programmes was to produce human capital that can contribute to the rapid growth of the country, taking into account sustainable development as well.
"There are about a million Diaspora overseas. They are specialised professionals, experts and specialists in their fields. Although Malaysia is a developing country, education is always top on its priority," he said at a meeting with the Malaysian community here on Sunday.
However, Malaysia still needed professionals who are based overseas to come home after completing their term of contract or studies.
"To overcome the shortage of professionals and technical experts in the country, towards creating a world-class workforce in Malaysia, particularly in the context of driving the Economic Transformation Programme, the Talent Corp has been formed to look at addressing talent requirements of the economic transformation," he said.
He said though many countries had faced an economic downturn, Malaysia still registered an economic growth of more than 6% last year.
That was a reason Malaysia had to 'import' unskilled workers, he said, adding more than two million foreign workers were needed to cater for the demands in various sectors.
Muhyiddin said the government had always taken steps to ensure Malaysia can attract foreign investment, with last year's total foreign investment reaching RM216 billion.
Muhyiddin arrived in Japan on Friday for a four-day working visit. – Bernama