Higher Education Minister Zambry says MPU reforms aim to strengthen national identity and civic awareness among over 1.1 million students.
SERDANG: The government is strengthening the implementation of General Studies Subjects (MPU) at higher education institutions to build patriotism and national identity among students.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the subject must be seen as a vital foundation for shaping society, not just an administrative requirement.
“If we want to see the character of a nation and the kind of generation we hope to produce, it must begin with the mould.
MPU is one of those key moulds,” he said at a Training of Trainers programme at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
He acknowledged past challenges, including inconsistent approaches and a perception that MPU is unimportant.
The Ministry of Higher Education is now restructuring the MPU curriculum to make it more comprehensive and aligned with the nation’s history.
This reform follows a mandate from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in August 2024 to strengthen understanding of nationhood among students.
The revised curriculum was designed by leading thinkers Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin and Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Osman Bakar.
It integrates concepts of civilisation and nation-building into a new framework for over 1.1 million students this year.
The MPU courses are now organised into four distinct clusters covering philosophy, soft skills, broad knowledge, and community engagement.
A clear governance framework involving the Malaysian Qualifications Agency will ensure consistency and quality across all institutions.
The reform is regarded as a long-term strategic investment to nurture ethical, critical graduates ready to contribute to national development.
