When you walk into Malaysia as a tourist, you may not realize that you have just walked into a country with many 'best in the world' and 'world class' statuses. This country has achieved so much even though it is still a developing nation with GDP per capita of only USD7,000 per annum. Its GDP per capita is a long way lower than wealthier countries like Japan, Australia, South Korea, Germany, United Kingdom, Singapore, or even Argentina.
Best Democracy in the World
Do not frown when you see Malaysia. This is most likely the Best Democracy in the World. Some Western and Asian countries may wish to inquire or learn from this. It is no frivolous claim. It is a democratic status described by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak in 2014. I am not making this up. Find the reports and news below:
http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?sec=nation&file=%2f2011%2f9%2f18%2fnation%2f20110918141818
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/02/12/sliding-press-freedom-best-democracy-in-the-world/
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malaysias-press-freedom-ranking-drops-to-historic-low-of-147
Best Healthcare System in the World
Do not need to worry about the adequacy of medical services in Malaysia when you visit. In case you need medical attention, you will be treated in the Best Health System in the World. At the same time, you will be surprised that the health system is also the cheapest in the world. Najib Razak, as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, highlighted this crucial health standard and cost on 27 February 2015 in Malaysia. He further confirmed that Malaysia was the still the 3rd Best in the World in terms of health facilities. Despite the high healthcare standard, Malaysia had not been equally successful in curbing the dengue epidemic in the past few years. Find the reports and news below:
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/malaysia-medical-fees-cheapest-world-says-najib-bernama-072837222.html
http://outbreaknewstoday.com/malaysia-dengue-outbreak-nears-100000/ (2014 vs 2013)
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/23630-dengue-cases-recorded-nationwide-says-deputy-minister-bernama (Jan-Feb 2015 vs Jan-Feb 2014)
Weather will not spoil your holiday in Malaysia despite the fact that it is a tropical country with plenty of rain. You will never need to worry about flood in this country. You can visit anywhere and stay in anywhere. Malaysia has one of the Best Flood Management System in the World, even better than those in developed countries, such as the United States. Minister in Prime Minister's Department, Shahidan Kassim explained this on 25 November 2013. Malaysians subsequently went on to suffer from the worst loss of lives and property damage in decades as a result of flood in 2014. Find the reports and news below:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/new-schools-built-to-act-as-flood-relief-centres-says-shahidan
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30609549
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/better-coordination-needed-for-flood-reconstruction
Best Education System in the World
You will be greeted Malaysians who have been trained by one of the Best Education System in the World as you tour Malaysia. They are possibly very proficient in English language due to the Malaysian education system's emphasis on training internationally competitive and highly skilled labour force. On 1 April 2012, Malaysia revealed that Malaysian youngsters were receiving better education than children in the United States, Britain and Germany. It was openly trumpeted by Muhyiddin Yassin, the Education Minister cum Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.
On that account, you should find very rare and few Malaysians who study overseas. A quick check with acquaintances and associates in Malaysia who could afford overseas education showed otherwise though. Interestingly, Muhyiddin was however baffled by poor grasp of English language by Malaysian students when he spoke on the subject in November 2014.
Malaysian students only managed a poor 55th ranking out of 65 countries in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) done by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Find the reports and news below:
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2012/04/01/Muhyiddin-Our-education-system-is-one-of-the-best/
http://www.themalaysiantimes.com.my/dap-shuns-muhyiddins-best-education-system-claim/
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/muhyiddin-baffled-by-malaysians-poor-grasp-of-english
While you are visiting Malaysia, you should know that you may wish to further your education in high quality universities situated in the country. With the one of the Best Education System in the World, it is not surprising that Malaysia has the Best Universities or Higher Education. Second Education Minister of Malaysia, Idris Jusoh openly announced that the country had World Class Higher Education on 21 February 2015. Yes, Malaysia has to have 2 education ministers to ensure the Best in the World education.
According to him, Malaysia's higher education was on par with those of developed nations including the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia. Malaysian top university, Universiti Malaya (UM) was in 151st position (up from 167) in the list of 400 top institutions in the world in the 2014 QS World Ranking of universities. UM was however ranked at 377 for 2014 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and had improved from its position of 401 to 500 in 2012 and 2013. UM did not submit data for the annual Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2014-2015. Four other Malaysian universities submitted their data but none made it into the top 400 of the rankings. Should you be inquisitive, you may wish to read further to understand the background of this world class quality. Find the reports and news below:
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/newsindex.php?id=1110674http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/290163
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/02/27/idris-jusoh-told-to-stop-fooling-malaysians/
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/global-education-index-disappointed-um-ukm-snubbed-rankings-poll
I suspect Idris Jusoh's logic can be based on the fact that Malaysia is one of the country in the world. Whatever that it does is within this world, and hence anything that it does is a part of world class. While I do not subscribe to this line of argument, I have to give credit to his creativity.
Malaysia is a country with many Best in the World! As a tourist, you can only be proud to have visited this country. As a Malaysian, you can only be proud of being a citizen of this country with many 'best in the world' and 'world class' statuses. It may not be long before Malaysia changes its tourism tagline from 'Malaysia, Truly Asia' to the 'Malaysia, the Best in the World'. Malaysia has achieved so much in the past 4 years. "Apa lagi lu mau?", perhaps one can enviously quote this colloquial expression recently made popular by a local newspaper, when you meet a Malaysian.
