EDUCATION Minister Maszlee Malik has urged local academicians to focus solely on conducting research and getting their works published in renowned academic journals to attain international recognition.

Maszlee said the recognition would be beneficial to local universities, and increase the chances of receiving funding.

“I do not agree with lecturers and professors in universities who are burdened with business activities to organise university programmes. That is not their job.

“Their task is to make masterpieces (karya agung), journals, and educational research,” he said at a forum organised by Sinar Harian in Shah Alam today.

Maszlee was responding to a question by moderator Johan Jaafar, whom had asked for his opinion on ways to uphold local universities that lacked funding.

Johan said due to lack of funding, some academics in the universities ventured into businesses to support programmes in the universities.

Maszlee said academics had to make themselves known in academia, which would lead to grants coming in from outside parties.

“If they do not write, they will not be known in the industry. Who would then give them grants?

“Many professors and researchers from Ivy League universities do not wait for funding from the government, but are sought by people who offer grants,” said the Simpang Renggam MP.

Maszlee also urged graduates from those universities to give back to their former institutions.

He said active alumni engagement was one of the ways to increase funding for universities.

Maszlee said the ministry had plans to engage with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to sell number plates to alumni.

“For example, a University of Malaya alumnus can get a car plate number that says ‘UM 1000’.

“Half of the amount goes to JPJ and the other half to the university.”

The forum today saw a full house and crowd, comprising mostly teachers and students from all levels.

Maszlee was swamped with questions from the floor, as everyone wanted to get his immediate feedback on certain issues in the education system. – July 19, 2018.