Selangor Sultan Wants UiTM Academic Programmes To Be Relevant With Global Changes

SHAH ALAM, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah wants Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) academic programmes to always remain relevant to global changes so that graduates are competitive in an increasingly challenging job market.

His Royal Highness said this was particularly important in fields such as digital technology, artificial intelligence, science, engineering, medicine, finance, accounting, law, creative industries as well as new fields that would determine the future of the country's economy.

"In the past, the struggle was to gain a place at university, today the struggle is to ensure that our graduates are able to compete and become the best in an increasingly challenging world.

"I want UiTM to continue to uphold its original mandate of empowering the Malays and Bumiputera. But upholding that mandate does not mean that we should turn a blind eye to our own weaknesses or feel satisfied with what has been achieved," the Sultan said in his royal address at the UiTM Royal Address 2026 themed ‘Excellence of Educational Institutions as the Core of National Development’ at the Seri Budiman Concert Hall here today, in the presence of Raja Permaisuri Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

Sultan Sharafuddin expressed pride regarding UiTM’s achievements, as it has nurtured graduates into key drivers, corporate figures and prominent leaders at the national and global levels.

"UiTM's ability to produce Bumiputera professionals is no longer rhetoric, but a reality proven by clear figures," His Royal Highness said.

The Sultan also stressed on the need for UiTM to produce more job creators and economic owners, rather than merely job seekers.

His Royal Highness pointed out that while UiTM previously played a major role in producing the Bumiputera professional class, the institution in future needed to help produce more entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, industry leaders and business owners capable of competing at the regional and international levels.

"UiTM's relationship with industry must also be strengthened. Do not let us produce graduates with a degree but without the skills, confidence, language proficiency, thinking ability and capabilities required by industry," the Sultan said, as he urged every UiTM student and graduate to master at least two foreign languages to increase their competitiveness in the job market.

Sultan Sharafuddin also explained that UiTM had a position closely linked to the framework of the Federal Constitution, pointing out that the Universiti Teknologi MARA Act 1976 (Act 173), particularly Section 1A, provides for the establishment of UiTM in accordance with Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

"Article 153(8A) also allows for the reservation of places in institutions of higher education for Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

"Therefore, UiTM's role in empowering Malay and Bumiputera education has a clear constitutional foundation, and is not merely an ordinary administrative policy," His Royal Highness said.

The Sultan said any proposal to change the foundation, identity or objectives of UiTM could not be regarded as an ordinary administrative decision, but instead needed to be examined within the framework of the Federal Constitution as a whole.

"At the same time, defending UiTM does not mean denying the educational rights of other races. Malaysia has various higher education institutions for all citizens.

"UiTM was born out of a historical need to narrow the educational and socioeconomic gap among Malays and Bumiputera. As long as this gap still exists, its founding mandate has yet to be completed," His Royal Highness said.

-- BERNAMA