Public Lecture by YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

Tun Dr. Mahathir delivering his lecture

OUM is proud to organize another public lecture today and the presenter is none other than our beloved former PM of Malaysia, YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad. The title of his lecture was "Impact of Technology on the Future of Higher Education".

Tan Sri Dr. Anuwar Ali delivering his welcoming address

Tun Dr. M launching the e=learning innovations, witnessed by Tan Sri Azman Hashim (Pro-Chancellor of OUM) and Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Anuwar Ali (President and Vice Chancellor of OUM). Pix courtesy of The Star

The event which started at 9.30am was held at the Seri Pacific Hotel Ballroom in KL on 10 August 2010. Close to 1,000 people from all over Malaysia and even as far as Yemen, came to listen attentively to Tun's lecture. It was a frank and well thought lecture where Tun shares his years of experience about the the impact of technology especially the Internet on education.

Tun Dr. Mahathir shaking hands with participants after delivering his lecture

Tun Dr. Mahathir was met by reporters


Earlier, YBhg Tan Sri Dr. Anuwar Ali, President and Vice Chancellor of OUM gave a welcoming speech and provide insight of the various e-learning technology developed by OUM. YABhg Tun was given the honor to launch the new E-Learning Innovation.

The launching of OUM's e-learning innovation

Multimedia presentation of E-Learning Innovation

In his lecture, Tun Dr. M, as he is fondly known, emphasized on the need to create new ideas and knowledge to address the problems caused by technology itself. He was very concerned about the overwhelming knowledge available on the net especially pornographic materials which has caused a lot of social problems in Malaysia lately.

In order to obtain the knowledge one must have a good grasp in English as it is the international language. He was disappointed that after he retired from the government, the teaching of Math and Science using English mooted by him has been reversed back to the Malay language. This was due to certain groups of people who misconstrue that learning the English language makes one less patriotic.

Video clip of Tun Dr. M's lecture - Part 1

Video clip of Tun Dr. M's lecture - Part 2

He said that technology today is more powerful and should be capitalized to improve our knowledge. He was glad that OUM has implemented various e-learning efforts to help make education available to all at an affordable fee. With technology, learning has just begun. The younger generation learns faster than the elderly as their mindset has not changed. He confessed that he himself find it difficult to use the PC and the various programs, nevertheless, it is important for us to use it in order to gain the knowledge that we required.

At the end of his one and half hour lecture, participants were given opportunity to ask Tun on various issues. When asked about the one thing he will do if the clock were to turned back 22 years ago, Tun said there are many things he could do as a PM and the one thing he wanted to do and he could do is to enforce the teaching of math and science in English successfully.

When asked to suggest to narrow the gap of digital divide especially between students and teachers, Tun Dr. M candidly suggested that the teachers must be very old and ought to retire. He said teachers should equip themselves with more knowledge than their students.

Tun Dr. M on air via OUM's i-radio

Video clip of I-Radio interview with Tun Dr. M

The lecture ends at 11.00am and Tun Dr. Mahathir then made a visit to OUM main campus to look at the new technology used at OUM. Tun Dr. M was also interviewed live via i-radio of OUM by Prof. Dr. Zoraini and accompanied by Tan Sri Anuwar Ali and Prof. Dr. Mansor Fadzil.

Tun Dr. M meeting staff of OUM at OUM's main campus

Tun Dr. Mahathir was seen leaving OUM after lunch