Additional RM20 Mln Allocation For UiTM To Boost Bumiputera Agenda In E&E Field

MANJUNG, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- The additional allocation of RM20 million to Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to produce more graduates in the electrical and electronics (E&E) engineering field is seen as a boost to the Bumiputera development agenda in Malaysia.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said this is crucial as E&E is one of the critical fields in producing graduates and talents to meet industry demands, which requires serious attention in the country.

"While we are giving opportunities to other universities such as USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia), which is the main leader in developing E&E programmes, we are also expanding it to other institutions like UiTM.

“This is because UiTM has a very large student population, currently over 130,000, possibly even 138,000, so it needs professional programmes like E&E, which are highly demanded in the market,” he told reporters after launching the Women Empowerment Programme at the Lumut parliamentary constituency level at the Perak Fisheries Development Authority Hall here today.

Zambry expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the allocation under Budget 2025 and is confident that the additional funding will enable the number of E&E graduates to double.

“For instance, IPTA (public institutions of higher learning) can now produce 5,000 (graduates) annually, and with the introduction of new programmes at these universities, the number will increase further.

“In addition to IPTA, we are also introducing these programmes at polytechnics, and further expanding them within the Malaysia Technical University Network (MTUN),” he said.

-- BERNAMA