UMS STUDENTS, LECTURERS DO NOT EVEN READ NEWSPAPERS, SAYS VC

 Kota Kinabalu: This may come as a surprise but it appears even those in higher seats of learning are not reading as much as they should. Not only students but their lecturers too.

"I noted that students prefer to play games either on the computer or using their handphones instead of reading a book or newspaper which they should do more often to develop their thinking.

"Even UMS lecturers are not diligent when it comes to reading books or newspapers when they should as they are the ones educating the students," said Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr. Kamaruzaman Hj. Ampon.

"I understand that the students' reading would be more exam-oriented but I do feel they should be reading other books to gain extra knowledge.

"But forcing students to do so would not serve the purpose and we may lose the battle as they need to have a passion for reading."

"Everywhere he (Mahathir) goes, he would often bring a book in his hand," he said.

Having insufficient knowledge could also hamper students' chances of being employed on completion of their studies, he warned.

"There are various ways to generate and stimulate the mind to come up with ideas. But if lecturers have yet to produce a book, they can start by producing articles as a start.

"Just begin with a piece of paper, I am sure that ideas will come eventually and more ideas will easily flow when you start writing," he said.