The statement made by Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor that higher education is not a mandatory requirement to become a successful politician in Malaysia has sparked debate amid the intense campaigning for the Sungai Bakap state by-election in Penang.
In the by-election, PN's candidate Abidin Ismail, whose academic qualifications were not disclosed, was contesting against Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin, who held a PhD.
Sanusi said many highly educated individuals such as doctors and professors failed in politics because they did not understand the sociocultural aspects and the pulse of the local populace.
Sanusi's remarks were not something new. Leaders from opposing parties have also made similar statements in the past.
Their argument was that the public did not judge based on certificates but on what politicians did and accomplished for the people.
They argued that, in reality, those without higher education could manage effectively, while PhD holders sometimes made poor decisions influenced by other factors.
Perhaps this was why a political activist previously claimed that at least 50 per cent of politicians from a certain party did not have degrees.
However, this was not what we wanted in the political culture of Malaysia.
Academic qualifications should become a new standard, as lawmakers will be responsible for legislating at the state or national level.
Experience in politics alone was not enough to qualify someone as a lawmaker.
Parties and the country will face significant challenges in the future. With the increase in new young voters, the mindset and approach of lawmakers or potential lawmakers needed to align with current demands.
The UK's Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) estimated that in 2023, nearly half of the top leaders from 195 countries have pursued degree-level education either in the UK or the United States (US).
A total of 65 studied in the US and 58 in the UK, including two Singapore Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong and Lawrence Wong, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Our lawmakers do not necessarily need to study in the UK or the US, but at the very least, they should possess a bachelor's degree from a local university.