22/08/2026
๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ: ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ช๐๐โ๐จ๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ข ๐๐ก๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐ง๐๐ฅ๐
Alhamdulillah,
Yesterday afternoon, I had the opportunity to welcome and engage with a delegation from Universitas Muhammadiyah Pontianak (UMP), Indonesia, during a luncheon held at Bilik Perdana, UiTM Sarawak Branch, Samarahan Campus.
The UMP delegation was led by Dr. Linda Suwarni, Deputy Rector of UMP, together with 13 members of the delegation who are currently undertaking a benchmarking visit to UiTMCS.
I would like to express my highest appreciation to UMP for choosing UiTMCS as one of the destinations for their visit. Both institutions share strategic advantages as universities within the Borneo ecosystem, a region connected not only by geography but also by history, culture, communities and shared aspirations towards sustainable regional development.
I believe there is tremendous potential for collaboration between the two universities, particularly in the areas of research, community engagement, sustainable development, tourism, education, technology, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, indigenous communities and cultural heritage preservation. The increasingly connected cities of Kuching and Kalimantan through regional networks also provide greater opportunities to strengthen academic and strategic collaboration.
Among the matters discussed, which received positive feedback, were the organisation of short-term courses, staff and student mobility, matching grants, high-impact publications, credit transfers, academic visits, as well as the implementation of joint community projects.
During their visit to UiTMCS, the UMP delegation was also briefed and taken on visits to the Halal Hub Laboratory and the Nusantara Islamic Gallery, Tun Abdul Razak Library (PTAR), as well as other facilities at UiTMCS Samarahan 2 Campus.
Indeed, the relationship between UiTMCS and UMP goes beyond conventional international collaboration. It reflects the spirit of regional neighbourliness, strengthened by shared opportunities and responsibilities. May this partnership serve as a catalyst for the development of a stronger education and research network within ASEAN, while further empowering higher education institutions to contribute meaningfully to the development of Borneo and the Nusantara region.