Govt To Focus On Producing Skilled Manpower - M'sian Deputy PM

By Ahmad Shukran Shaharudin ABU DHABI, May 8 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government is focusing on how the education system would produce skilled and qualified manpower in the future, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (left). He said this was because the on-going economic transformation programme, initiated by the government, was projected to open up some 3.3 million new job opportunities which mostly should be filled by skilled locals. "This is most important. English as a second language is important, Science and Technology are equally important. "So the education (sector) needs to be moving in tandem with the needs of the country," he told some 250 Malaysians during a gathering with the Malaysian community in Abu Dhabi, here Monday night. Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said therefore the government had made a decision for an education review last week. He said the National Education Dialogue would invite all the stakeholders to come forward to submit views, ideas, proposals and suggestions for the betterment of the education system. In the major exercise, Muhyiddin said the dialogue would be ready in three months and would come up with the first draft blueprint for the education roadmap for the next 10 or 15 years. The current policies were based on the 1956 Razak Report. "We must have a system of education that not only serves the interest of the community at large like now but (also) what is projected in the next 10 to 15 years," he said. He said skilled Malaysians working overseas too were encouraged to come back home and help the country prosper and develop. Muhyiddin is on a three-day official visit to the UAE. He is accompanied by his wife, Norainee Abdul Rahman and Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Mukhriz Mahathir. Earlier, Muhyiddin had an audience with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, General Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan. "Sheikh Mohamed is very happy with Malaysians working in UAE and credit goes to all of you. It is because of the good services rendered to help the city grow and they need these services and expertise," Muhyiddin said. Muhyiddin also had an audience and dinner with the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Saif Zayed Al Nahyan (right). (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA