GOPENG, April 23 (Bernama) -- The state government has agreed to develop a Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) branch campus in Segari, Lumut, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said.
Saarani said the proposal was submitted by UPNM vice-chancellor Lieutenant General Datuk Arman Rumaizi Ahmad.
He said a Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) delegation, led by its minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, paid a courtesy visit to his office at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan last week.
“The development of this branch campus will complement the two existing Defence Cities in the country, namely in Kuantan, Pahang for air defence and in Klang, Selangor for land defence.
“With the UPNM branch in Perak, it will complete the naval defence component, as Lumut is the country’s main maritime defence base,” he said after officiating the Gopeng Avante Development Project here today.
Saarani said the project is at an early stage following the state government’s approval.
“It will be a fully equipped campus, supported by the presence of a Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut.
“With the Defence City and Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC), I am confident this campus will become a leading higher education institution,” he said.
In another development, Saarani said industry players and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be involved in the Perak State Crisis Committee to address the impact of global supply disruptions on the state’s economy.
He said their involvement will be based on needs and aligned with issues discussed at each meeting.
The Special Committee on the Impact of Crisis in Perak will be chaired by him, while the Monitoring Committee will be chaired by State Secretary Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim.
Saarani added that the committee he chairs will focus on the impact of global conflicts and crises on the state economy and the people, while the committee chaired by the State Secretary will involve relevant departments and implementing agencies under his purview.
-- BERNAMA
