Idris urges youths to innovate, practice unconventional thinking

PETALING JAYA: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Idris Jala has urged youths to innovate and think unconventionally to take the level of innovation in Malaysia to a higher level.

“Innovate (new product) from current products and figure out howtomakeitcheaperandbetter,” hesaidinhisopeningspeechatthe, “Kopitiam Ekonomi-KDU Pro-Am Debate Challenge 2014: Getting by or getting ahead?What’s after vision 2020?” here yesterday.

Idris, who is also Performance Management and Delivery Unit Chief Executive Officer, also encouraged the younger generation to innovate without relying on government grants and loans to start innovation projects.

“It is very difficult to innovate products, and given the fact that the success rate of commercialism in Malaysia is less than one per cent.As for the world, it is about three per cent. However, it is proven that there are people who succeed.

“Innovation is about sitting down and figuring out how to make it better and be prepared for failure, not to mention that it takes time to succeed,” he said.

He highlighted that it took a Malaysian six years to produce an international standard amplifier that has now has been recognised worldwide.

Idris also said stressed that education and exposure to new things played a vital role in developing an innovative culture within the society.

“Society needs to be open to new ideas and children should be allowed to explore new things,” he added.

Kopitiam Ekonomi, an initiative under the Economic Transformation Programme was organised to draw the attention of youths between 15 to 40 years to be conscious of their role in the formation of national economic policies.

More t han 50 teams f rom local and private universities participated in the debate challenge, addressing complex issues surrounding the creation of economicpoliciesinaninteractive and informative manner.

Meanwhile, KDU University College is expected to transfer its activities to a new 4.047 hectare purpose-built campus at Glenmarie, in Shah Alam, Selangor.

The RM320 million campus is scheduled to be fully completed early next year as the university college strives to deliver a highlyconducive learning environment, while providing excellent facilities. - Bernama