PM: Encourage creativity and innovation
Reports by LEE YUK PENG, ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN and LOH FOON FONG

KUALA LUMPUR: The school curriculum should include activities which encourage creative thinking, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

Children should be encouraged to be creative, and not just to remember facts to pass examinations, he said after the Cabinet meeting on the Malaysian Innovation Foundation (MIF) at Parliament House yesterday.

“The school is the most important area in the establishment of innovative thinking among our younger generation,” he said.

“Children are always curious and we should nurture their curiosity by helping them to be creative. Many parents don’t want to spend time to entertain their children who are curious. We should instead nurture them so they can build on their innovative thinking and creativity for the good of the country when they are adults.”

Abdullah said the participants of yesterday’s meeting agreed to focus on creating a culture of innovative thinking among Malaysians.

He added that the people, whether in the cities or villages, should be encouraged to conduct research and create products that would bring economic benefits to the country. Abdullah said among the areas that would be given attention were information and communication technology and biotechnology.

He added agriculture was another area where creative Malaysians could introduce new farming machines, technologies or products that could be commercialised.

Abdullah said the MIF would be handled by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and it would be tasked with cultivating innovation through awareness and promotion programmes among the people of all levels.

It was reported that the Government had approved a RM10mil grant for the MIF to encourage innovation at the grassroots level.

Excerpt from:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/11/parliament/2510973&sec=parliament

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