KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 – The opening of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) campus in Qatar can elevate national higher education onto the global stage, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
He said this was particularly significant as the university began as a Malaysian public educational institution with the national language as its primary medium of instruction.
“As one of the individuals who signed the memorandum urging the establishment of a public university with the national language as the medium of instruction, I am proud to be with the UKM staff on this glorious day,” he said in a Facebook post.
Anwar officially opened the campus in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday.
He also hoped that UKM’s pioneering move would pave the way for other Malaysian public universities to follow suit.
The prime minister also expressed his gratitude at being given the opportunity to be with the UKM leadership and staff to witness the historic occasion.
Anwar also congratulated UKM vice-chancellor Mohd Ekwan Toriman on the achievement.
The prime minister is on a three-day visit to Qatar from Monday at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Hamad Al Thani, with the main event being the Qatar Economic Forum and the opening of the UKM campus.
