Putrajaya: Youths in Malaysia are being called upon to harness creativity, innovation, and knowledge to build 'empires of the mind' and propel the nation's progress in a new era driven by ideas and imagination. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir emphasized this call to action during the second day of the Festival of Ideas (FOI) 2025 event.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Zambry highlighted Malaysia's journey of progress and resilience as a testament to the power of vision and creativity in nation-building. He stressed the significance of ideas nurtured with imagination, discipline, and purpose in transforming lives and destinies. Dr Zambry noted that the modern era defines the strength of nations not by conquest or wealth but by knowledge, creativity, and innovation.
He referenced a quote by Sir Winston Churchill, 'The empires of the future will be the empires of the mind,' to emphasize the shift from traditional resources to intellectual ones. Dr Zambry stated that societies investing in ideas will pave the way for future leadership. He described the FOI as more than a ceremonial event, but a platform for transformation where imagination is cultivated, and seeds of progress are planted.
Dr Zambry cited historical figures like Marie Curie, Alexander Graham Bell, and Thomas Edison to illustrate how imagination and perseverance have led to world-changing discoveries. He also acknowledged Malaysia's own contributions, highlighting innovators such as Dr Wu Lien-Teh, who invented the first modern medical mask, and other local inventors like Muhd Razlan Dhamir Hamdan, Pua Khein-Seng, Iris Corporation, and Ganesh Kumar Bangah.
The FOI has become a regional hub for collaboration and innovation, attracting participation from ASEAN education leaders, including ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Indonesia's Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto, and the Philippines' Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Dr Shirley Casta±eda Agrupis. Dr Zambry stressed the importance of ideas that unite and connect minds, institutions, and nations in realizing ASEAN's potential.
The FOI Putrajaya 2025, which began on November 4 and runs until November 8, is expected to draw nearly 500,000 in-person visitors and about two million participants globally, including 1.5 million virtual attendees.