Advocate of climate change education wins top academic award

Dr Mahathir Mohamad presents Zakri Abdul Hamid the ‘National Academic Figure’ award. They are flanked by Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching and Director-General of Higher Education Siti Hamisah Tapsir.

PETALING JAYA: An academic who advocates that climate change be taught to students from young, tonight won the top award at the 13th National Academic Awards.

Zakri Abdul Hamid, a science adviser to Najib Razak during the previous administration, was named the “National Academic Figure” at the event officiated by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad at Seri Kembangan.

Zakri, who was among nine academics honoured at the function, had recently called for climate change education to be taught to students at an early age so that environmental concern would remain a top priority when they grow up.

In his address, Mahathir said the Pakatan Harapan government has made education the key to building a new Malaysia that is “inclusive, moderate and glorious”.

He said this is in line with the national education philosophy that aims to produce learned, skillful and responsible citizens. - FMT