(April 7): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today said graduates need to be taught good moral values to ensure that their knowledge and intelligence are put to good use, as Malaysia faces possible threat from militants abroad.

He said, in a Malaysiakini report today, that good moral values are important "so they do not become villains who destroy the nation".

"If they are clever but don't possess morals, they can use their intelligence to destroy this country.

"The most extreme example is, someone highly educated using their knowledge to build bombs. (Therefore) it is, not impossible," he was quoted as saying in the report.

"This is why we want to develop positive values (in our graduates)."

Malaysiakini reported that Najib, at the launch of the National Higher Education Blueprint 2015-2020, said the goal of higher education was to develop world class talents who possess proper values.

Besides ensuring graduates do not turn out “evil”, the prime minister said he wanted public universities to generate more income instead of asking for more allocations.

"For example, in 2025, the government will contribute RM14 billion, while public universities must get (an additional) RM4 billion on their own." he said in the Malaysiakini report.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Najib said the blueprint is set to be a catalyst for the transformation of the country to compete at the global level.

He said the blueprint, which outlined 10 thrusts, had the capacity to create human capital that could be categorised as talented, of a global standard and founded on positive values.

"I am convinced the blueprint will be a catalyst for transformation and can ensure a more excellent future for Malaysia."

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh also attended the event. – The Malaysian Insider