KUCHING - The Government will continue to give priority to education as it is the key to the creation of a knowledge-based society.

According to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, continued learning process and education were prerequisites to make Malaysians into knowledge based society.

"Education will help change our society and therefore as Malaysians we must strive towards academic excellence that will ensure us suc­cess by becoming a developed nation by the year 2020," he said when closing the Seventh National Inter-Foundation Games last night.

The ceremony marked the end of four-day sport meet attended by 13 state foundations that was won by the Sabah Foundation. The first runner up Was Johor Educa­tion Foundation while Sarawak Foundation came in third place.

The next sport meet will be in Perlis in 2005.

Taib said Malaysians should continue to equip themselves with the latest knowledge, skills and ability to be on par with the world's best.

As such he added: "We must continue to educate our children and give them the support and encouragement needed to push them to even greater heights for the sake of our beloved nation."

He called on the officers from the various state foundations to continue to remain committed when discharging their duties, as they were the key players in the nation's education system.

He pointed out Malaysia had seen tremendous change for the last forty years of its formation and reminded the people on the importance of national integration to build a strong and united Malaysia.

"We need to share our knowledge and reflect on our achievements and continue to march forward," he said.

The Chief Minister added that with greater interactions through sport meet and visits to the different parts of the country, the people, could bridge any geographical gap among the people.

"Visitors who come to Sarawak will see a different kind of place but the people share the same aspiration of every Malaysian to see the country becoming a developed nation, he said.