KOTA BARU, May 11 — Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has voiced concern over the declining interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) among top-performing students, warning that this trend poses a risk to the future talent pipeline in the medical field. Despite 14,000 students achieving straight A’s, he noted that fewer are pursuing STEM pathways, which traditionally serve as the foundation for medical education and healthcare careers.
Urging immediate intervention, Dr Dzulkefly called on the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to take proactive steps to revive interest in STEM. He stressed that safeguarding the future of Malaysia’s healthcare system depends not only on attracting students to the field but also on retaining medical professionals through improved career pathways, support structures, and incentives.
