Anwar's Dialogue Session Strengthens UTP's Role In National Development, Opportunities For Students To Interact

SERI ISKANDAR, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- ‘Anwar Meeting with Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) Students’ programme here today provided an opportunity for students to interact directly with the country's leadership, reflecting confidence in the younger generation.

The programme held at the UTP Chancellery served as a platform for students to discuss future job issues, new technological challenges, and the need to build a workforce that is not only highly skilled but also ethical, innovative and resilient.

UTP president Mohamed Firous Asnan said the university was honoured to welcome the Prime Minister, whose commitment to education has been proven for over four decades, including when he led the Ministry of Education.

“More than four decades ago, he served as Education Minister, championing curriculum reform, expanding access to education, and making education a cornerstone of national development.

"In the 1970s and 1980s, Datuk Seri (Anwar) was known as a youth icon and a people's fighter who tirelessly championed the fate of the poor and rural communities," he said during his speech at the event.

Mohamed Firous said that as Malaysia is currently undergoing a period of significant transformation in terms of economy, technology and society, Anwar's confidence in the strategic role of universities is growing stronger.

He said that through initiatives such as the MADANI Economy, the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of universities as centres of innovation and national resilience.

At the event, Anwar also delivered a public lecture titled 'Universities as Strategic Assets: Planning Malaysia's Future through Talent, Technology, and Transformation' and took the time to visit UTP's Integrated Engineering Department, which offers an Integrated Engineering Bachelor's degree programme with Honours.

In addition, the Prime Minister was also given a short briefing on the research programmes currently being actively conducted at UTP, which are in the fields of nuclear fusion and smart materials. This demonstrates the university's ability to explore new frontiers in science and technology, while also leveraging UTP's founding basis in the oil and gas sector.

Previously, Anwar also launched the largest single-roof solar panel in Malaysia, the UTP solar PV system developed jointly with Gentari, which consists of over 13,000 PV modules covering an area of 36,000 square metres.

With a maximum power capacity of 7.4 megawatts, the system is capable of contributing 25 per cent of UTP's total electricity demand and saving approximately 11 per cent of the university's total electricity bill, indirectly contributing to UTP's sustainability initiatives.

Also present were Perak Chief Minister Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

UTP, established by PETRONAS in 1997, is committed to nurturing future talent and empowering research that benefits society and industry.

With its campus located in a biodiversity-rich environment, UTP serves as a living laboratory for engineering and technological innovation.

-- BERNAMA