In response to the argument I had with some individuals who were asking why we allocate 70% of the funding to scientists, it is not that the arts do not matter, but we need to prioritise survival. The arts will be more appreciated when the foundation of the country is secure. The fundamentals of life (shelter, food, locomotion, defence) are the basic needs of society. The more a society is able to tame and harness nature for its own benefit, the more prosperous that society will become. I was happy to see flashes of this as I toured the exhibition stalls today. I would therefore like to thank the university administration for responding to the calls of our society. The money we are allocating for innovations and research is merely endozo (jaribu, a sip, a taste); we shall provide more in the future.
