Beyond The Boundaries Of Knowledge
I recently returned from a trip to Switzerland. I found it fascinating that multilingualism is a fundamental part of Swiss identity. With four official languages – German, French, Italian, and Romansh – Switzerland truly embodies a polyglot society. It reminded me of the Andalusian era, where Muslim scholars were not only polyglots but also polymaths. That […]
Beyond The Buzzwords: Rethinking Leadership In Teaching And Learning
Note: This article is based on the keynote speech delivered at the 9th Inspirational Scholar Symposium (ISS) 2025. Introduction Assalamualaikum, distinguished guests, fellow educators, and respected colleagues. It’s truly an honour to stand among those who dedicate their lives to shaping minds and nurturing futures. My sincere thanks to the organiser for the invitation and […]
Beyond the Numbers: How Malaysian Universities Can Thrive Without Playing the Ranking Game
For many universities, international rankings such as QS and Times Higher Education have become the academic equivalent of the Olympic medal table. They promise visibility, prestige, and a global reputation. In Malaysia, rankings have influenced policies, leadership targets, and even funding decisions. Yet, in our obsession with the numbers, we risk losing sight of what […]
Speed, Scale, Strategy: What China Got Right — And What Malaysia Must Do Next
Malaysia has fallen one spot to 34th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, missing its target (again) of breaking into the top 30. Our innovation input sub-index is ranked 30th while its innovation output sub-index lags at 39th. The gap suggests leaks in the translation chain: research to commercialisation, diffusion into industry, IP licensing, […]
Unlocking Prosperity in Kelantan: Lessons from The Prosperity Paradox
Today is Friday, and it is Maulidul Rasul. The weekend has settled over Kelantan, and like many here, I spent part of the day working in the backyard. After Isya’ prayers, while resting quietly in my study room, I reached for a book I had read a few years ago: The Prosperity Paradox by the late Professor […]
Why Good People Must Learn the Language of Power
In every organisation, you’ll find good people, the hardworking, ethical, and sincere ones. They avoid politics, stay focused on their responsibilities, and hope that merit will be enough to carry them forward. Yet too often, these same people end up overlooked, frustrated, and led by those less competent but more manipulative. Why does this happen? Because goodness […]
Professors without Professing
“Why do we see professors who cannot profess?” A friend asked me that question over coffee not long ago. A simple question, yet a heavy one. I paused before answering. Eventually, I said, we get what we chase. Some people chase the title of “professor,” and once they have it, they stop. Others chase knowledge, and through years […]
The Price of Arrogance
In my academic career, I have always believed in connecting academia with industry, and theory with practice. Over the years, this belief has allowed me to meet and engage with many corporate figures and successful entrepreneurs, including a few billionaires. Now, as a professor teaching MBA and DBA students, I have the privilege of teaching […]
Why Do Bad People Seem to Get What They Want?
Recently, a good friend asked me a question that made me pause and reflect: “Why do bad people often get what they want – wealth, power, or position – even when they use bad means, while good, sincere people are often left behind?” I could sense his frustration. He is one of the kindest, most hardworking, and […]
Bridging the Gap: Why Business School Faculty Must Step Out to Stay Relevant
In a recent Global Focus article, Business School Strategy – What Really Matters, Thomas Bieger aptly argues that business schools are at a strategic crossroads. Artificial intelligence is rapidly commoditising knowledge, forcing b-schools to rethink what truly differentiates their offering. One key point he highlights is the need for relevance, the ability to deliver education […]
Applying Theory of Change in Higher Education for Real Impact
About three months ago, I planted flower seedlings in my little garden and watched them sprout, grow, and finally bloom into beautiful flowers. Watching the flowers bloom after the cats-and-dogs rain made me reflect on the concepts of outputs, outcomes, and impacts that many of us still find confusing. The analogy is simple. When we […]
The Power Of The Few
Why real change always begins with a small, committed group? One of my MBA students, a CEO of a mid-sized company, recently shared a challenge many leaders would find familiar. Over the past decade, his company had achieved remarkable growth by serving a neglected market segment. By offering products and services at affordable prices to low- and […]
I Once Had A Dream
I once had a dream – to transform Universiti Malaysia Kelantan into a Valley of Knowledge, where entrepreneurial minds from all disciplines come together to learn, innovate, and create. A place where innovative ideas are not just encouraged but nurtured, where problems are seen as opportunities, and where solutions are turned into impactful ventures that make […]
Malaysia’s Rise In World University Rankings: What’s Next?
The recent release of the QS World University Rankings 2026 brought welcome news to Malaysia’s higher education sector. With 70% of our 32 ranked universities moving up, Malaysia recorded the highest rate of improvement globally among countries with 10 or more ranked universities. This is no small feat and reflects ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Higher Education, university leadership, […]
What Makes a University World-Class?
How can Malaysian universities become world-class institutions? That was a common question during my tenure as Vice Chancellor and Deputy Director General of Higher Education. The same question resurfaced recently during a conversation with a few colleagues. It was not an easy question to answer. Many factors contribute to a university being regarded as world-class. […]
Strength and Trust: Two Timeless Leadership Traits
I couldn’t sleep after having a deep and honest conversation with a few good friends about leadership. We spoke not just about its power, but also its burdens. The moments of solitude, the hard decisions, and the quiet accountability it demands. So, I got up and took the Qur’an. I remembered the story of Prophet […]
What a Sticky Note Exercise Taught Me About Organisational Success
Over the last two decades, I’ve been involved in dozens of consulting and training projects, mostly in business intelligence and, more recently, business transformation. Each engagement brought new insights, but one consulting project in particular left a lasting impression on me. It taught me a powerful lesson about leadership, decision-making, and how an organisation’s internal […]
Empathy: A Bridge to Innovation?
I met Professor Kim Ki-Chan in Kuala Lumpur last year. He is a renowned scholar and advocate of humane entrepreneurship, a concept he developed based on his years of consulting experience with some of South Korea’s largest corporations. As a token of appreciation, I gave him a copy of my latest book, I’mPossible: Leading Change. […]
Bridging the Gap: Lessons for Malaysia’s Education Reform
Malaysia’s recent announcement celebrating the best SPM results since 2013 reflects an encouraging trend within the national education system. However, a contrasting narrative emerges when we examine Malaysia’s performance in the latest PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) assessment. Malaysian students continue to lag behind their ASEAN counterparts, including Singapore, Vietnam, and even Thailand and […]
Beyond The Applause
Yesterday, I drove along the East-West Highway from Pengkalan Hulu, Perak to Pasir Mas, Kelantan. It was a familiar yet always breathtaking journey. I took a short break at TRaCe in Pulau Banding – one of UMK’s hidden gems nestled amidst nature, often overlooked but full of potential. I had also planned to stop by a […]
What the U.S. – China Trade War Teaches Us About Sun Tzu and Trump
Not all wars are fought with weapons. Some are waged with tariffs, tweets, and trade barriers. And behind every move, there is a mindset – sometimes ancient, sometimes loud. This week, headlines screamed louder than usual: the U.S. has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 245%. For those who follow geopolitics and global trade, it’s another chapter […]
Accreditation and Audits: A Double-Edged Sword?
We had an audit recently – a tough one, I would say. But despite the intensity, we did quite well. No non-conformities (NCR), just a few opportunities for improvement (OFI). While such audits often bring tension and anxiety, they also serve as moments of reflection. As I engaged in discussions and debates with the auditors, […]
A Tale of Two Neighbours
While I was jotting down notes from my recent trip to Spain about the rise and fall of Andalusia, I recalled a book I read more than a decade ago, Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson. During its prime, Andalusia was a hub of knowledge and innovation, thriving due to the strength of […]
Do We Have What It Takes?
The trajectory of a nation or an institution is often shaped by the leadership of a single individual. History has shown that the right leader can inspire transformation, while the wrong one can lead to decline. Leaders who challenge the status quo, make bold decisions, and foster long-term sustainability often leave behind a legacy of progress. Two […]
Retaining Talents
During a recent conversation with one of my DBA students, a bright and capable individual who graduated from a local university but now works for a multinational company in Singapore, we explored a pressing issue – talent management and retention. “Why are we losing so many of our best talents to Singapore?” I asked. While […]
The Selfless Path
One day, a junior colleague visited my office seeking advice. At first, she hesitated to share her concerns. As a young academician, she was troubled by what she observed. Many of her colleagues were intensely focused on chasing key performance indicators (KPIs), often with promotions as their ultimate goal – sometimes even at the expense […]
A Journey Home
I have spent most of my life away from my hometown, Kota Bharu. My early years were in Mentakab, Pahang, where my father served in the army. Those formative years shaped my understanding of discipline and resilience, values my father lived by as a soldier. After my father retired, I returned to Kota Bharu to […]
Will AI Replace Accountants?
After graduating in 1992, I worked briefly with an audit firm before joining Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) as a tutor. During those early days, I stumbled upon an intriguing article titled The Third Wave Breaks on the Shores of Accounting by Prof. Robert Elliot. The article was groundbreaking, predicting that IT would become a driving force […]
Focus
It is not uncommon for us to blame time when we fail to achieve our goals. We often hear the mantra, “There are only 24 hours in a day,” followed by advice on time management. While managing time is undeniably important, my leadership journey has taught me that the real game-changer is not time but […]
Leadership Lessons From Manchester United’s Decade of Struggles
Which football club is your favourite? Anyone who loves football would either love or hate Manchester United. For me, the choice has always been clear. When I was in primary school in the late-70s, my brother and I would save 20 cents each weekly to buy Majalah Sukan, a sports magazine. Football was our passion, and we closely […]