Selangor Sultan SNUBS federal govt's proposal to set up new agriculture university

SERDANG - The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, today said the proposed setting up of a new agriculture university was unnecessary.

Instead, he suggested that the allocation for the proposed project to channelled to Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) on efforts to further develop high-technology agriculture.

"I want UPM to be a source of reference, to be a model for the society and the industry in looking for the best aspect in terms of knowledge and research for the people's well-being and prosperity," he said in his speech at UPM's 37th convocation here today.

The sultan, who is UPM Chancellor, hoped UPM would make a paradigm leap and intensify efforts to channel knowledge and expertise.

UPM, he said, played a direct role in enhancing food security through human resource development, supply and transfer of technology.

As such, he hoped the proposal to set up a Food Security Centre at the university would be considered by the government as it was in tandem with UPM's strategic plan.

It was reported that Agriculture and Agro-based Industry minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is proposing to set up a full-fledged agricultural university to produce more experts and professionals in the field.

The setting up of the university was discussed at the post Cabinet ministerial-level meeting last Wednesday and expected to be raised in the Cabinet next month.

The university, he said, would utilise existing facilities such as the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) in Serdang and would probably be called Universiti Agropolitan.

Meanwhile, Sultan Sharafuddin later presented the scrolls to 795 graduates, led by the recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Science to Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) president Prof Dr Morio Matsunaga.

A total of 7,149 graduates would receive their scrolls at the convocation to be held for four days, from today. – Bernama