This advice came from former Second Finance Minister and economic adviser Nor Mohamed Yakcop.
He narrated his time as economic adviser to former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the 1990s when he recruited several young professionals to prove themselves by heading major corporations and important institutions.
These appointments, he said, were to help the government during the financial crisis.
Nor Mohamed said Mahathir was a little sceptical at first.
“In early October 2001, Tun Mahathir went to the studios of TV3 to record an interview.
“Both executive directors of TV3, Rahman Ahmad and Shahril Ridza, were on hand to receive him and the prime minister was shocked that the new chieftains were so very young.
“The prime minister later asked me sternly: ‘How could you do this? I can’t believe you appointed very young people to run these government-linked enterprises.’
“I replied: ‘Sir, your instructions were to appoint people who are smart, hard-working, God-fearing and humble. You did not mention anything about age.”
He said by giving the opportunity to talented professionals to take up top leadership roles at a young age, the government was able to overcome all the obstacles they had to face during his time.
Nor Mohamed said this at the launch of his book, titled “Pushing the boundaries: Story from the Putrajaya years (May 2000 – May 2013)”.
The book talks about the triumphs and tribulations faced by the government during the period and how it managed to turn things around during the 1997/1998 financial crisis.
At least 26 people contributed to the book, sharing their professional experiences with Yakcop. They include Finance Minister Abdul Wahid Omar, former 1Malaysia Development Berhad Chairman Mohd Bakke Salleh and TalentCorp Malaysia CEO Johan Mahmood Merican.
Nor Mohamed also served as Second Finance Minister under the premiership of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He was also former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Economic Planning Unit.
Asked by reporters on the current economic situation, he said the top leadership and the public needed to have confidence that they would be able to overcome any dilemma.
“We will overcome challenges by thinking outside the box, being committed, passionate, cooperative and putting our trust in the leadership.”
He said nobody could expect a perfect solution to a problem as it was impossible to find one.
“What we can do is find something that has more benefits than harm.
“I believe that the (current) government is starting to take the right measures which will bring us out of difficulties.”