KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — Monash University Malaysia will invest RM2.8 billion to develop a new campus in the heart of Kuala Lumpur in partnership with Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) master developer TRX City, marking the Australian institution’s largest-ever investment in education and research in Malaysia.
The project was announced by Monash University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Sharon Pickering, alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
Set to open in 2032, the new Monash Malaysia campus will accommodate up to 22,500 students and 1,700 staff by 2040. The expansion aims to meet rising demand for world-class higher education in Malaysia and the broader Asean region.
Albanese said the investment reflected Australia’s commitment to strengthening education and regional ties.
“Showcasing Australia’s best in class higher education sector overseas is a huge opportunity for Australian jobs and investment. It’s also a chance to deepen our connections in the region and the world,” he said.
“That’s exactly what we’re seeing with this investment from Monash for a new campus in Malaysia — students learning from Australia’s leading international university right here in Kuala Lumpur.”
The upcoming TRX campus — which will operate in addition to Monash’s existing Sunway campus — will house research centres focusing on energy transition, health, artificial intelligence, and data science.
More than 35 new programmes will be introduced in key fields such as digital transformation, AI and cybersecurity, climate change and sustainability, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and finance.
TRX City chief executive officer Datuk Sr Azmar Talib said the collaboration would strengthen Malaysia’s competitiveness and human capital development.
“Our partnership with Monash University strengthens Malaysia’s connectivity with Asean through talent development. The new campus will enrich TRX’s community and nurture the next generation of global thinkers,” he said.
Monash University Malaysia president Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said the project would expand the university’s research and education capabilities while aligning with national development goals.
“We will deliver world-class education at scale with a focus on digital transformation, health, sustainability, green energy, and urban development,” she said.
The university estimates its investment will contribute RM19.1 billion to Malaysia’s economy over the next decade through infrastructure, innovation, workforce development and community initiatives.
Established in 1998 as Malaysia’s first foreign university campus, Monash University Malaysia now has over 11,000 students from more than 80 countries.
Monash also operates a campus in Indonesia and works with partners across Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and other Asean nations to support Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030.
