SHAH ALAM, Aug 29 — The government will continue to uphold Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) as a key institution in the educational, professional and socioeconomic development of the Bumiputera community. 

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the mandate and identity that formed the basis for UiTM’s establishment and development would continue to be preserved by the government. 

“It is with the awareness of this great responsibility that I wish to affirm that the government will continue to defend UiTM as a key institution in the educational, professional and socioeconomic development of the Bumiputera community. 

“The mandate and identity that formed the basis for UiTM’s establishment and development will continue to be preserved, but defending UiTM does not mean merely preserving what already exists. Instead, we must continue to strengthen, empower and advance it,” he said in his address at Majlis Titah Diraja UiTM 2026 held at Dewan Konsert Seri Budiman here yesterday. 

Also in attendance at the ceremony, themed ‘Kecemerlangan Institusi Pendidikan Teras Pembangunan Negara’, were the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, and the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin. 

Zambry said among the strategic measures implemented was the establishment of the UiTM Rationalisation Coordination Committee (URCC) to review academic, research, innovation, governance and talent development aspects. 

He said the committee also covers industry linkages, internationalisation, and readiness to face future technological and economic changes, under the leadership of its chairman, Tan Sri Idris Jusoh. 

“We want UiTM to continue developing as a ‘Premier University Driving Bumiputera Professionals’, with a strong mandate, high standards of excellence and broad contributions to the country and the world. 

“In conjunction with UiTM’s 1956-2026 seven-decade evolution, themed ‘Legasi Ilmu, Aspirasi Unggul’, the achievements of these seven decades should not merely be celebrated but must be regarded as a responsibility to chart the next seven decades,” he said. 

At the same time, Zambry stressed that the key question now was not merely how far UiTM had come, but rather the direction that the esteemed institution would take next. — Bernama