MALAYSIAN STUDENTS URGED TO PLAY ROLE IN NATION BUILDING

AUCKLAND, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen has urged Malaysian
students in New Zealand to help the government in its transformation plan for a
prosperous and developed country.

"You are valued citizens of our young nation and we want you to play your part
to move Malaysia forward to a high-income country," Dr Ng said.

The minister was addressing about 130 students who gathered at a hotel here last
night to break fast.

"We are moving from manufacturing to a services industry where millions of jobs
would be created and where there will be opportunities for you to be creative,
innovative and productive in the transformation of Malaysia," she said.

Dr Ng said every student in Malaysia would be judged on their merit and
scholarships would be offered to all Malaysians if they achieved good grades.

She said students from disadvantaged backgrounds would be given special help to
achieve higher education.

The government was spending billions of ringgit to ensure Malaysia had a highly
educated workforce, she said.

The minister, who is on a seven-day visit to New Zealand and Australia to
promote tourism, cautioned the students on the dangers new media can pose.

"They often tell you 50 per cent of the truth or 50 per cent half-truth and make
wild and unfounded allegations against (prominent) people," she said.

Dr Ng delighted the students with her humour and received a standing ovation for
her entertaining talk.

The Malaysian High Commission to New Zealand Hasnudin Hamzah said there were
2,318 Malaysian students in Kiwiland and they were all well-behaved, studied
hard "and I have no headache looking after them."

Hasnudin said there was a strong bond of friendship between Malaysia and New
Zealand and Malaysian students felt welcomed in this country.
-- BERNAMA