Ideas first, then complexity

I RECENTLY wrote a letter arguing that 2025 was the year we forgot to ask what a university is for (“The year we forgot to ask”, The Star, Dec 27; online at bit.ly/star_ask). I would like to continue on from that to examine the consequences: When we stop asking why, we mistake shadows for substance. And Malaysia has been celebrating shadows.

There was much to celebrate in 2025 – strong GDP and manufacturing growth, landmark trade agreements, and 70% of Malay-sian universities climbing higher in the QS World University Rankings, the highest improvement rate globally. The numbers look good. But looking good may not be the same as being good.