Transformation In Education, Human Capital Vital For Developed Nation Status -PM

PEKAN (Malaysia), Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Sunday efforts to turn Malaysia into a developed country would be futile unless transformation in the fields of education and human capital is done properly. He said the government had allocated huge sums of money for education, and this must be supported by all quarters to realise the objective of Malaysia becoming a developed country. "Education is a priority sector which must be championed, which must be boosted in terms of funds, infrastructure and moral support by all quarters, including the people," he said at the presentation of excellence awards to UPSR and PMR students in the Pekan parliamentary constituency, here. Najib said 22 per cent of the national budget is allocated for education annually, reflecting the government's emphasis on education excellence. "Furthermore, we supplement the allocation through organisations and foundations, such as in Pahang where the Pahang Foundation promotes education. We also seek from other sources for education. In fact, much of the allocation for elected representatives is channelled to education," he said. "What we intend to achieve to become a developed country may not become a reality unless we can develop the necessary human capital, encompassing the important fields," he said. Najib said all the people should support the government's desire to turn Malaysia into a developed country by 2020 by emphasising their children's excellence in education. "This is our investment to achieve a developed country. It cannot be achieved without developing education," he said at the event where 328 UPSR pupils and 146 PMR students in the Pekan parliamentary constituency received RM200 each contributed by the Pahang Foundation. Earlier, when speaking at the opening of the Kampung Padang Rumbia integrated housing community centre near Paloh Hinai, Najib said the efforts to transform Malaysia into a developed country required the support of all quarters. "This integrated housing project, for example, is founded on the cooperation of the federal and state governments and the private sector. It is a good collaboration in the transformation of the country's development," he said. Some 50 eligible poor families in the area were allocated houses for free.(US$=RM3.14) -- BERNAMA