{
  "id": 6250045,
  "title": "Bumiputera education must move beyond quotas towards self-reliance - Zambry",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/bumiputera-education-must-move-beyond-quotas-towards-self-reliance",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T06:14:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1528220/bumiputera-education-must-move-beyond-quotas-towards-self-reliance"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Higher Education Minister Dr Zambry Abd Kadir emphasized that the future of education for the Malay and Bumiputera communities should shift from quotas to fostering self-reliance and resilience. Success should be measured by their ability to excel in STEM, develop new technologies, and own intellectual property, he stated during the launch of the Malay Education Convention 2026. Zambry argued that the education system should move beyond merely providing access to quality improvement, competency building, promoting entrepreneurship, and progressing from technology use to technology ownership. He suggested Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) should not be considered a second choice but a crucial pathway for developing national talent and producing skilled technicians. Addressing the issue of Bumiputera dependency, Zambry affirmed that while structural imbalances required affirmative policies, the ultimate goal was to empower the Bumiputera community to achieve excellence and become independent. He stressed that Malay and Bumiputera education should not be built on the narrative of dependency, but rather, the future should focus on empowering the community to stand on their own, lead, and help others. Zambry highlighted the importance of mastering the Malay language as a language of knowledge and identity, alongside proficiency in English and other languages essential for global competition without compromising integrity. He stressed that education must produce not just intelligent individuals, but also those of good character, integrity, and moral courage to lead. The Malay Education Convention 2026, a continuation of the Bumiputera Education Congress, would culminate in the formulation of a comprehensive resolution, which would be submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for consideration and further policy action.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The future of education for the Malay and Bumiputera communities must move beyond quotas towards greater self-reliance and resilience.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}