Dr. Mahathir Mohamed Reviews the Process of Human Resources Development in Malasyia
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Former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamed said that the abilities of people to produce in developing societies are probably the same, but differences of culture and the value system affect their ability to deliver the right kind of work with the same quality of products. Speaking on "Human Resources Development" to a 1700-strong audience at the Library of Alexandria on Malaysia"s experience in human resources development, Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamed gave an overview of how Malaysia turned from a poor, rice-cultivating country into one of the most competitive industrial giants in Asia. He said that in the Malaysian experience, his government struck a balance between its role as a watchdog over the private sector without choking the free market economy. He added that Malaysia did not adhere to any rigid ideology, whether communists or capitalist, but followed whatever management and production style that gave the best results. "A nation like Malaysia wishing to switch from an agricultural economy to an industrial economy," he said, "faces many social challenges to accommodate the needs of an industrialized environment." He contrasted the work ethics of a rural society with the operation of a highly industrialized urban community, adding that the switch from one to the other "required a change in the mind-set of the people as a whole."
Introducing Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamed, Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, one of the three co-hosts of Dr. Bin Mohamed"s visit, reviewed the career developments of the former Prime Minister of Malaysia and said "he showed that his achievements were of a lasting variety; he was a nation-builder and not just an excellent, charismatic administrator." He recalled how Dr. Bin Mohamed surprised the world and all of the people of Malaysia by stepping down and passing on the baton to his chosen colleagues. "The smooth transition speaks volumes about his enormous achievements and his abilities", he added. Dr. Serageldin outlined how Dr. Bin Mohamed not only transformed Malaysia "but also transformed the terms of the discourse on international economic relations."
Dr. Bin Mohamed was also welcomed by the Egyptian Minister of Higher Education, Amr Salama, by Dr. Mohamed Abdellah, President of the University of Alexandria and Mr. Yassir Seif, Chairman of the Salah Taher Society.
The lecture was attended by a host of Egyptian cabinet ministers, past and present, university professors, professionals and media representatives.
A lively discussion followed the 45-minute lecture in which the former Malaysian Prime Minister answered dozens of questions ranging from the role of Muslim women in Malaysian society to the timing of his stepping down from office. On women, he said they represented 50 per cent of the society and that they are employed in all professions including the armed forces. If they were to be confined to their homes the society would lose half of its working force. He explained that there was no conflict between the tenets of Islam and the work of women. He also spoke of the value of education particularly in the disciplines of science, mathematics and the English language. He also spoke of the spirit of religious and cultural tolerance that multi-ethnic Malaysia had developed. "We feel we should not be sectarian. If we have differences, let"s learn to tolerate them and focus really on what"s common between us."
Asked about the importance of the event, Dr. Ismail Serageldin said:
"The Malaysian experience is important because they succeeded in promoting education and the role of women and achieved remarkable technological and scientific progress in a very short time, while maintaining their distinctly Malaysian identity with its Islamic dimension. Thus the lecture on "The development of Human Resources" was essential for us at a time when we in Egypt generally and in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina specifically are seeking to address the issues of reform of our education and training systems. We must be able to learn from the experience of others, take what suits us and leave what does not suit us, in order to improve. There is much to learn from the Malaysian experience, including their strict adherence to high education standards, their insistence on emphasis on Mathematics and Science in the curriculum, and their commitment to promote real centers of excellence within their borders."
