Putrajaya: Malaysia, at the heart of ASEAN, must rise as a hub of thinkers that is rooted in values, rich in diversity and confident in moderation, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He emphasized Malaysia's geographic and cultural position as a meeting point between east and west, which bestows upon it the moral and intellectual responsibility to lead the region in ideas, innovation, and ethical development.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid delivered his keynote address at the Festival of Ideas (FOI) Putrajaya 2025, stating that Malaysia must transition from being a consumer of ideas to becoming a producer of knowledge and innovation for the region. He proposed that the FOI, themed 'MADANI: Shaping the Future, Realising Ideas,' should evolve beyond an annual event into a national movement that fosters continuous creativity and collaboration among schools, universities, and village communities.
He encouraged this festival to be the catalyst for an ecosystem where students engage in debates, researchers work together, and citizens contribute to solving real-world problems. 'From lecture halls to rural villages, let Malaysia become a nation that thinks, questions, and creates together,' he asserted. Ahmad Zahid highlighted that a nation built on moral strength and intellectual courage is crucial for Malaysia's progress amidst global challenges driven by technology and information.
As chairman of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, Ahmad Zahid announced the government's approval to establish a National TVET Commission to coordinate 1,398 institutions nationwide, ensuring training programs align with industry needs. This initiative is part of Malaysia's strategy to cultivate a culture of creativity, technical expertise, and lifelong learning, aiming to produce a workforce ready for the future.
He emphasized that TVET should no longer be viewed as a secondary option but as a primary pathway in the national education ecosystem. 'Who says TVET graduates cannot excel? As the ASEAN secretary-general said, TVET will become the number one choice in our education system,' he noted. He proudly cited Brazilian President Luiz In¡cio Lula da Silva as an example of a global leader with a TVET background, illustrating that TVET graduates can also ascend to positions of political and national leadership.
Ahmad Zahid remarked that skills, rather than paper qualifications, must become the new currency of the nation, providing real value that elevates Malaysia on the global stage. He mentioned Malaysia's efforts to build entire ecosystems of innovation, from the Kulim Hi-Tech Park to university research zones, to connect local knowledge with global frontiers. 'Our goal is not to mimic Silicon Valley, but to craft a Malaysian model where trust and compassion guide technology and where climate action draws strength from local wisdom,' he added.
Reflecting on Malaysia's journey toward becoming a nation of knowledge, Ahmad Zahid drew inspiration from past leaders such as Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn, who envisioned intellectual freedom and emphasized education and discipline as the nation's foundation. He expressed hope for Malaysia to emerge as a baldatun tayyibatun, or a good and enlightened nation, contributing to ASEAN's unity through ideas and moral leadership.
Ahmad Zahid also assured the Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, of the government's commitment to allocate additional funds to support next year's FOI. He noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is a strong supporter of the event, designating it as an annual program. The FOI Putrajaya 2025, which runs from today until November 8, is expected to attract nearly 500,000 in-person visitors and around two million participants, including 1.5 million virtual attendees from around the world.