A FIRST of its kind, the three-day Putrajaya Festival of Ideas (Putrajaya FOI), which will kick off on Wednesday at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), will be a platform for youth to share innovative ideas and success stories, fostering collaboration and intellectual exchange, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
“Ideas matter, wherever we go and in whatever we do,” he stressed, adding that the festival will highlight the achievements of young people and showcase the successes they have already attained.
Organised by the Higher Education Ministry, Zambry’s brainchild is aimed at popularising ideas and higher education on a large scale, as well as promoting Malaysia as a regional and global centre for intellectual discourse and innovation.
“I hope this event will capture the imagination of our people, so that big ideas can emerge from the festival,” he said during a talk with editors in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 20.
Zambry said there will be various programmes, including talks, held through the Malaysia Ideas Summit (MyIDEAS), which will take place during the festival.
“For example, there will be a plenary session on rethinking the idea of development, which will address major issues and explore ideas that go beyond the ordinary.
“On Nov 28, there will be a talk on young Malaysian ideas featuring Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, alongside Aphelia Space chief executive officer Razlan Dhamir and 12-year-old prodigy Izz Imil Shahrom.
“We also have parallel programmes on food security, sustainability and climate change, digital transformation, and Madani through the lens of various beliefs,” he added.
Zambry said too much research is being stored in universities, even though these “big ideas” could be used for the country’s development.
“The same is true for the latest findings and discoveries. Unfortunately, we have not succeeded in promoting these ideas,” he said. — By JAAYNE JEEVITA
