Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad clarified that he did not change Universiti Pertanian Malaysia's name to Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

The issue cropped up when Mahathir was asked on the name change after he called on local universities to focus on specialised areas during a talk at the Multimedia University (MMU) in Cyberjaya today.

UPM's name change in 1997 signalled the end of the university's specialisation in tropical agriculture.

"I was not the one who changed the name. It was at the request of the university, of course. They wanted to expand into other areas, particularly into medicine because there is a great demand for doctors," Mahathir said in response to the question from the floor.

Mahathir said while UPM saw a need to expand into other fields, local universities should confine to 'what they know best'.

"It is always difficult to focus on things. They (UPM) see a need to move into other areas. But if you ask my view after being in government for 22 years and watching the development of this country and other countries ... my feeling now is that we need to stay within the confines of our subjects.

"As Malaysia develops, we are going to get confined in narrower and narrower areas," he added.

Change mindset

During his talk on 'Universities in Vision 2020', Mahathir said local universities must focus on specialised areas especially scientific-based in order to become world-class institutions by the year 2020.

He aid universities must carry out more scientific research for the betterment of mankind and revolutionise the way people live.

"Universities can no longer focus on general areas but excel in their specialised areas so that they can be the centre of research and reference for specific areas by the world," he said.

According to him, universities must change their mindsets from merely producing graduates to become centres of excellence for their specialised areas.

"Universities in 2020 must be equally well-developed as the country develops," he said.

With this approach, Mahathir hoped the country's first ever Nobel laureate could be produced by 2020.

All jacks, no masters

The former premier also stressed that local universities should be a place where students can gain and seek more knowledge.

"It should not be a place where you study for three years, in the hope of just obtaining a degree. It should not be just that. There are jacks of all trades but masters of none," he said.

During the question-and-answer session, he also advised science-based students against venturing into business after graduation.

"I know there are people who want start a business because of some brilliant idea they have. But it is dangerous to do that. I would suggest that you work with a company that is relevant with what you have in mind, or you could take up a course in management..."

"Even if you are a great scientist you will not know how to manage business ... because business is quite different compared to scientific knowledge," he said.

Shifting to politics, Mahathir said: "I should have been trained in politics but I studied medicine ... they didn't need politics that much (then)."

"But nowadays everybody should study politics because there are a lot of opportunities in that field," added the former premier, who is a trained medical doctor.

Also present at the talk was Mahathir's wife and MMU chancellor Dr Siti Hasmah Ali and foreign dignitaries.