UiTM to get RM3 bil to boost enrolments
Malaysiakini
Nov 10, 2006
Wong Yeen Fern

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) will receive RM3 billion under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to attract an additional 200,000 students to the university in the next five years.

The allocation included the construction of a museum and gallery, both of which were opened by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.

In his speech, the deputy premier said the museum and gallery will be able to attract more students to the university, including those from abroad.

He stressed on the need for students who will be the future leaders to understand the history of the country.

“By understanding the country’s history, it will help us evaluate what had been done in the past, and from the past, we shall plan for the future,” he said.

Reference centre

According to Najib, the museum in UiTM will serve as a reference centre where students can have easy access to the nation’s history.

He said the museum will also cater to foreign students who wanted to know and understand more about Malaysia.

“My wish is to make this museum one of the main resource centres for foreign and local students who want to know and understand more about Malaysian history,” he told some 300 people who attended the event.

The deputy premier said without a proper understanding of history, the younger generation will forget the mistakes made in the past and repeat them.

Najib added that UiTM, which is open to mostly bumiputeras, will not only train students for the job market but also future leaders.

He said it is important for students to have a ‘sense of mission’ to achieve something that will make the country proud. 

Established in 1956, UiTM has since expanded nationwide with 14 branch campuses. Along with its main campus in Shah Alam, the university has a student population of 100,000.