12 hours Ago By Samuel Aubrey
Martin (fourth left), Roslee (fifth left), Dr Ramle (third left), Dr Novel (first left) join other guests in watching a traditional welcoming dance.SERIAN (April 27): Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has been invited to consider establishing a branch campus in Sarawak as part of its expansion strategy, said deputy minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Martin Ben.Martin proposed that UKM engage with the Sarawak government and collaborate with Yayasan Sarawak to realise the plan.
“UKM is one of the top universities in Malaysia, and Serian would be an ideal location should this plan come to fruition,” he said at the launch of MPOB-UKM@Kampung programme, held at the Serian Convention Centre yesterday.Responding to remarks by UKM’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Strategy and Corporate Development Professor Datuk Dr Roslee Rajikan, Martin said the proposed campus would support UKM’s commitment to expanding its national footprint.Roslee, who spoke earlier, noted UKM’s improved standing in the QS World University Rankings 2025, rising from 159th to 138th globally.
Martin, who is also the Kedup assemblyman, expressed appreciation to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) for initiatives aimed at uplifting smallholders’ income in the region.“There are currently over 2,200 smallholders in Serian cultivating 12,000 hectares of palm oil,” he said, citing data sourced from MPOB deputy director-general (Research and Development) Dr Ramle Moslim.He emphasised that agriculture must be seen as a strategic business venture rather than a fallback for those less academically inclined, citing that palm oil contributes 68 per cent to Sarawak’s agricultural gross domestic product (GDP).
“Don’t look at agriculture as only for those who fail in school but look at it as a business venture – as a way to improve life,” he said, while praising and acknowledging the smallholders’ efforts to develop their native lands and increase family incomes.Moreover, he said the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-Ficord) had set a target for smallholders to achieve earnings of up to RM6,000 monthly through modern farming and crop diversification.The one-day programme, attended by some 350 participants, was a collaborative initiative between MPOB-UKM Endowment Chair and the Serian smallholders.
MPOB-UKM Endowment Chair Madani Community Cluster head Prof Dr Novel Lyndon, who was among the speakers at the event, conducted a presentation on chilli fertigation farming and marketing.The post Serian ideal for UKM expansion, says S’wak deputy minister appeared first on Borneo Post Online..
