EDUCATION COMMISSION SHOULD BE SET UP, SAYS ZAHID
It will strengthen national education policy, ensure continuity if minister changes, says DPM
DATUK Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday supported a suggestion that an education commission be established to strengthen the national education policy and ensure its continuity.
The deputy prime minister said he agreed with the suggestion by the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) because such a commission was needed to avoid changes to the policy each time there was a new education minister.
“We want (the commission to) uphold the education policies that should be adhered to by any minister that takes over the education portfolio. The policies need not change when the minister changes.”
He was speaking at the opening of the 63rd GPMS annual general meeting.
In his welcoming speech earlier, GPMS president Zambri Mohd Isa suggested that a commission be set up to steer the national education system to ensure consistency.
Zahid said the move would ensure students did not become “lab experiments” when policies changed.
“They are not lab specimens. They are the nation’s assets and should be empowered.”
He also told GPMS members not to be afraid of pushing for the Malay agenda.
He said such a push should not be viewed as “racism”, adding that it should be done tactfully and without neglecting the needs of other races.
“We must not ignore nor avoid the fact that we have a multiracial society.
“At the same time, we must realise there is a need to push the Malays to the forefront as we should not be left behind.
“We want to push the Malays to the forefront of education and beyond. There is nothing wrong with that.”
Present were Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and GPMS permanent chairman Mohd Hazimin Jamaludin.
At the function, Zahid approved a RM1 million allocation for GPMS before launching the Gerakan Melayu PRU14 (Gempur14), or Malay Movement GE14, an election machinery driven by GPMS.
Later, in Ipoh, Zahid said a task force should be set up under the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry to study the presence of middlemen as the possible reason for the price of goods exceeding market price.
According to Bernama, he said this was because the government feared it was middlemen who marked up prices for profit.
He said price hikes were not only for food, but also transportation cost and utilities.
“We don’t want people to become victims and have accusations hurled at the ministry,” he said when opening the 2017 Mega Sales Carnival at Bulatan Amanjaya in Meru.
He said a recent study found that the country’s economy was improving, but the price of goods was burdening consumers.
“Based on the index, the wholesale and retail sector recorded an increase of 7.4 per cent, with retail banking up 10.4 per cent during the third quarter of the year.”
He called on entrepreneurs, especially small- and medium-sized enterprise owners, to master the digital economy as this was a new power in the global economy.
He said entrepreneurs should take advantage of the digital economy and consider it a business opportunity.
He said entrepreneurs should capitalise on online business opportunities through the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) created by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He said DFTZ was a preparation to facilitate cross-border trade smoothly and enable local businesses to export their products by making e-commerce a priority.