PENANG, May 2015 - University students were urged to equip themselves with various knowledge and skills to face the challenges posed by globalisation and to increase their capabilities in dealing with these challenges.

Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said there is no shortcut to success in life, so when we have the opportunity to study, we should give our full attention and study wholeheartedly.

“Therefore seeking and acquiring knowledge is of the utmost importance, and students should concentrate fully to achieve academic success before embarking on helping the society and the nation,” he said during a forum “Siri Cakna Ilmu ke-8” titled “Thoughts of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad” organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Students Representative Council (MPPUSM) at the Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra (DTSP), USM, here recently.

He added, “Students need to believe in their own abilities, and be confident and optimistic in planning for their future, be prepared to face any challenges ahead.”

DTSP was packed to the brim with more than 3,000 USM students and staff, many of them have arrived at the hall as early as 8.00 a.m.

Mahathir also urged the students to always strive to master the various branches of knowledge because it gives them strength to chart their future, and to uphold moral and religious values to be truly successful in life.

When asked about the definition of a developed nation, Mahathir said that the mark of a developed country was not only about its citizens having high income; high income did not mean anything if the cost of living also rose along with the rise in income.

“The definition of a developed country should be expanded to include factors including its philosophy, the efficiency of its leadership, the capability of its industry sector, the level of education of its population and the quality of life enjoyed by its citizens,” he stressed.

He also advised the younger generation not to take the easy way out in life, such as choosing the field of study that does not challenge oneself, but to choose the field of study that is more difficult, especially in the field of science and technology, to enable them to master knowledge and contribute to the betterment of the society and the nation as a whole. 

The two and a half hour programme was conducted in the form of a talk show, moderated by USM alumnus, Azhar Jalil who touched on various topics related to Mahathir, ranging from his childhood experiences to the currency crisis, global peace and the quality of Malaysian education.

Earlier, the President of MPPUSM, Mohamad Shafiq bin Kamaruddin, in his welcoming speech, expressed his joy and excitement at the presence of the former Prime Minister of Malaysia in the USM campus, and hoped that the students who were present would benefit much from the input and insights shared by Mahathir, in their quest for future excellence.

 

Tun Dr. Mahathir, popularly known as Malaysia’s "Father of Modernisation," is the longest serving Prime Minister in Malaysia’s Cabinet, from 16 July 1981 to 13 October 2003.

He was conferred the Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Science degree by USM in August 2004 during the University’s 33^rd Convocation ceremony.

Also present at the forum were USM Pro-Chancellor Tan Sri Datuk Mustafa Mansur, USM Board of Governors Chairman Tan Sri Dr. Zulkefli A. Hassan, Board of Governors members as well as USM Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman and wife Datin Noraizan Jamaluddin and Deputy Vice-Chancellors. - Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe/Text: Mohamad Abdullah & Siti Naquiah Binti Abdillah/Photos: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa 

 

# For full video: http://youtu.be/M1AmWBszK-M