SHAH ALAM, Sept 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced that Universiti Teknologi MARA’s (UiTM) Jalan Othman Campus in Petaling Jaya has been renamed UiTM Tun Arshad Ayub Jalan Othman Campus in recognition of the late educationist’s contributions to the development of the institution.

Anwar said the renaming was a tribute to Arshad’s legacy, having played a key role in the development of the Institut Teknologi MARA (ITM) into UiTM, while also being known for his firm emphasis on educational quality, good governance and expanding educational opportunities for Bumiputera students.

He described Arshad as a highly respected Malay educationist who was firm and uncompromising, particularly when it came to education, quality and opportunities for Malay students.

Anwar said Arshad had also maintained a strong commitment to governance and institutional integrity, rather than using Malay institutions or agencies for personal gain or allowing them to be undermined by misconduct.

“Today’s younger generation may not remember him, but as times change, many have emerged claiming to be champions of the Malay cause and speaking about the struggle for the Malays. However, not many have maintained the same commitment to good governance or refrained from using Malay institutions and agencies to enrich themselves or undermine them,” he said.

Anwar said Arshad’s legacy should therefore be viewed not only in terms of his role in establishing and strengthening the institution, but also in the way he managed it and upheld good governance, which he said contributed to the growth of ITM’s Jalan Othman campus.

He was speaking at the UiTM Alumni Gathering with the Prime Minister at the university’s Dewan Agung Tuanku Canselor (DATC) here today.

Also present at the gathering were Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim, UiTM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin and Universiti Teknologi MARA Alumni Federation of Malaysia (PAUiTM) President Saiful Azhar Shaharun.

The late Arshad, who died in 2022, was the first director of ITM, serving from 1967 to 1975 before it became known as UiTM. He was regarded as a driving force behind the development of education at ITM and had also served as a ministry secretary-general.

As an immediate measure, Anwar also approved RM2.5 million to upgrade the campus.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the government would continue to prioritise the Bumiputera development agenda, including strengthening Bumiputera educational institutions and agencies, in line with the principle of social justice.

At the same time, he stressed that efforts to strengthen the Bumiputera agenda should not come at the expense of the rights and interests of the non-Bumiputera community.

“There are people who ask about the Madani Government’s attitude and position on the Bumiputera agenda. We hear it in the political discourse, sometimes through insinuations and suggestions that we are sidelining it.

“I want to give you the figures. For example, the operating and development allocation for UiTM alone, which was less than RM2 billion before the Madani Government, has increased every year. The allocation for UiTM in 2026 is RM3.08 billion.

“And now, as we approach the final weeks before the national Budget is announced on Oct 9, I want to give an assurance that our commitment to the Bumiputera development agenda and Bumiputera agencies will continue to receive attention.

“I want to demonstrate that under the Madani Government, the attention given to the development and economic, social and educational advancement of the Bumiputera is far greater than under any previous administration,” he said.

Anwar also urged UiTM alumni to play a greater role in helping the government assess and strengthen major programmes of Bumiputera agencies, particularly UiTM.

He proposed that PAUiTM select between seven and 10 alumni to evaluate the programmes, including providing views on new fields of study that should be expanded, such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and healthcare.

“I will provide every opportunity and avenue for you to evaluate each major programme of Bumiputera agencies, including UiTM, so that they can be improved and enhanced,” he said.

The prime minister also stressed the importance of student welfare, particularly for those from low-income families, including ensuring that no student faces food insecurity while pursuing their studies.

As a gesture of support and appreciation for PAUiTM’s efforts, the Prime Minister approved RM100,000 each for two programmes — the TUNaS Belia NEET Programme and the UiTM Alumni Fellowship Gathering. — Bernama