KUCHING: A delegation from from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) paid a courtesy call on Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at Wisma Bapa Malaysia,Petra Jaya, yesterday.
The visitors were led by Tengku Syarif Laksamana Perlis Datuk Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamalullail who is also the chairman of the Board of Directors of UPM.
The visit was aimed at informing the Premier that UPM would hold its convocation ceremony at the UPM Bintulu Campus for the first time this year.
The decision was taken following the approval by the Chancellor, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to give the opportunity to family members of Sarawak graduates to witness the convocation ceremony who previously faced constraints in attending the academic awarding ceremony which is traditionally held at the Serdang Main Campus, Selangor.
The historic Convocation ceremony will be held on November 1, at Dewan Sri Kenyalang, UPM Bintulu involving a total of 471 students including PhD, Masters, Bachelor and Diploma graduates from Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.
The UPM delegation also informed the Premier about the discovery of a new species of orchid in Sarawak by a UPM researcher, Professor Dr. Rusea Go which Abang Johari agreed for it to be named Bulbophyllum abangjoeii.
In addition, the UPM also informed that a fund for the Sarawak Biodiversity Project and the Agricultural Transformation Project in Gedong will be established with a donation of RM3 million from the state government and a cheque of RM1.4 million was handed over during the courtesy visit.
The Agricultural Transformation Project aims to help and transfer technology available at UPM to farmers in Gedong starting at the end of this year involving 15 researchers from UPM.
The UPM delegation comprised vice chancellor Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, deputy vice chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Dr. Ismi Arif, deputy vice chancellor (Industry and Community Network), Professor Ir. Dr. B.T. Hang Tuah Baharudin, UPMKB director Professor Dr. Shahrul Razid Sarbini and director of Strategy and Corporate Relations Centre Prof. Datuk Dr. Abdul Mua’ti @ Zamri Ahmad.
