SERDANG: Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir described the newly announced Cabinet today as a strong team capable of implementing the reform agenda that has been comprehensively and effectively planned.
He said the combination of senior and junior members, veterans and young leaders enables the new Cabinet to function as a cohesive and solid team.
"It is as mentioned by the Prime Minister - this is a working Cabinet. He wants to ensure that the combination of all groups is realised, whether senior or junior, veteran or young.
"So we can place them into a good team to ensure that the Madani agenda can be implemented as effectively as possible,” he said when asked to comment on the new Cabinet lineup after officiating the opening ceremony and Training of Trainers (ToT) for the General Studies Premier Course at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) on Tuesday (Dec 16).
Zambry also expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the trust placed in him to continue leading the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).
"The Prime Minister wants me to continue with the agendas that we have already planned. We have completed the National Higher Education Plan for the next 10 years and, God willing, it will be presented and launched by the Prime Minister,” he said.
Zambry said one of the biggest agendas in higher education at present is strengthening the General Studies as a foundation for student development in higher education institutions, in line with the need to produce graduates who are principled, knowledgeable and competitive.
"We will implement several amendments to existing laws, including the Polytechnic Act,” he said.
In addition, Zambry said several other initiatives will also be announced, including the continuation of the Festival of Ideas (FOI), which requires careful planning and phased implementation to strengthen the nation’s ecosystem of thought and intellectual discourse.
Meanwhile, Zambry also expressed his appreciation to his former deputy, Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, for his service, who has now been appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs.
At the same time, Zambry welcomed the appointment of Adam Adli Abdul Halim as his new deputy.
Zambry said he is confident that Adam’s experience and background in activism will contribute to the formulation of more inclusive and progressive policies.
"I am confident that he can work with me in a good combination, with the main goal of ensuring that our national higher education system operates in the best possible way,” he said.- Bernama
