Focusing generally on counseling and career planning, this symposium provides (1) a review and critique of guidance and counseling in Malaysian schools, by Amir Awang and Latiff Mirasa; (2) a discussion of the needs of Malaysian youth, by Mohd. Yunus Mohd. Noor; and (3) an abstract of the findings of a study of some aspects of student development in Malaysian universities, by T. Marimuthu. The review and critique specifically offers a brief historical overview of guidance services in the Malaysian education system, a short review of career guidance research, a review of findings focused on adolescents' attitudes about career guidance in the schools, and recommendations for improving facilities, activities, personnel, and policy. The discussion of the needs of Malaysian youth explores three different perspectives involving students' personal, educational, and vocational backgrounds. The first two perspectives describe the kinds of change that Malaysian youth currently experience; the last examines in detail the vocational needs of Malaysian youth and pressures confronting them. In conclusion, suggestions involving families, schools, and the nation are offered for solving the personal, educational, and vocational problems discussed. The report of the development of Malaysian university students very briefly profiles student aspirations, characteristics of popular students, social and leisure activities, social interaction among students, and changes in students' personality characteristics. (RH)