Survival pendidikan Melayu bukan lagi soal kuota, kata Zambry

Menteri Pendidikan Tinggi Zambry Abd Kadir has emphasized that the future of Malay and Bumiputera education should not rely on quotas, but rather on developing skills to produce creators of knowledge, technology owners, and economic pioneers. In his address at the Malay Education 2026 Convention at PWTC, Zambry stressed that success in education should be measured not by the number of Malay and Bumiputera students entering universities, but by their ability to master STEM, create technology, possess intellectual property, and build globally competitive businesses.

"To achieve this, we need to move from access to quality, from sufficiency to competence, from employment to entrepreneurship, and from technology use to technology ownership," he said.

Zambry reiterated that universities should not merely produce graduates with degrees, but individuals with knowledge, skills, integrity, and problem-solving abilities. He highlighted that issues in higher education must be addressed from the root, as disparities in urban and rural areas, family income, and access to technology also determine one's ability to benefit from the future economy.

Regarding artificial intelligence (AI), Zambry noted that it can be a great equalizer, but it can also be a great divider. "Students with a strong foundation in knowledge will use AI to think more deeply. Those with weak foundations may use it to avoid thinking," he said. Zambry emphasized that AI should not replace reading, writing, calculation, and critical thinking processes.

Instead, we should nurture individuals enhanced by AI, not those completely dependent on it. Furthermore, Bumiputera individuals should not only be technology operators, but should be trained as engineers, researchers, creators, patent holders, business founders, and industry leaders. With regards to language, Zambry stressed that Malay should be strengthened as a language for science, identity, and culture, while English and additional languages should serve as bridges to the world.

The convention also discussed three main sessions: the challenge of education for the B40 and M40 groups, the role of the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), and the reform of the Universities and Institutions of Higher Learning Act (Auku). The discussions are expected to be compiled into a resolution for submission to the Deputy Prime Minister, Zahid Hamidi.