PM, DPM Want UM To Stay Put

KEPALA BATAS, June 16 (Bernama) -- Both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the main campus of Universiti Malaya should be retained at its present location in Lembah Pantai in Kuala Lumpur and not make way for a proposed commercial development.
Abdullah spoke to reporters here after launching the "Semarak Merdeka", one of the programmes held in conjunction with the country's 50th anniversary of independence celebrations this year, while Najib spoke to Bernama in Kuala Lumpur.
"The (present) location is adequate for the university's operations. If possible, I want the campus to be retained there," Abdullah said, adding that the university could open branch campuses elsewhere if necessary.
It was reported yesterday that real estate company Guocoland (M) Berhad, controlled by millionaire Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan, has offered to relocate the university to Sepang in order to develop its present site into a RM10 billion commercial and residential hub.
That plan is reportedly objected to by the university's academic staff association, alumni, lecturers, administrators and undergraduates.
Abdullah, himself a graduate of Universiti Malaya, said that personally he would not want the university to be relocated.
He said the university was the country's first institution of higher learning and had produced many graduates who now served in the public and private sectors.
"Universiti Malaya is the first institution of higher learning established in the country and has served the nation well," he said.
Asked why there was an offer now to relocate the university, Abdullah said: "Perhaps they see the value and benefit of turning the area into a commercial zone."
Najib said the government would never agree to the proposal to relocate the university if it went against the public interest, adding that the government would consider the views of all quarters and that so far many had voiced opposition to the matter.
"This is because Universiti Malaya is an iconic institution of higher learning in the country," he told Bernama.
Earlier, Najib had said that he would seek an explanation from Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and the Universiti Malaya administration on the relocation plan.
"I cannot make any decision without talking to the minister concerned," he had told reporters after witnessing the departure of trainees for the third and fourth series of the National Service (NS) programme at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
The government would get feedback from the UM administration first before making a decision, he had said.
The company's proposal to relocate UM had met with objection and aroused the anger of various parties, including former UM vice-chancellor Royal Prof Ungku Abdul Aziz.
Ungku Aziz said the developer had no sense of patriotism as he was prepared to offer a price for the priceless national heritage.
The UM Board of Governors had also asked the university's administration to write to the Securities Commission to object to the company's proposal to shift the university for a commercial development.
Its acting chairman, Datuk Dr Zulkefli A. Hasan, said the board was in the dark over the plan to relocate the university to Sepang.

tunku : i don't think Guocoland Berhad will dare to propose the relocation of UM if they are not "bless" with their ideas from those who have authority.it's just because the majority is not happy so they have to forget about it.what if there's no objection, i'm sure this project will come to reality.there have been cases like this before but not up to this huge RM10billion worth scale.Anyway i would like to thanks the pm and dpm for not supporting it this "kurang ajar" project as said by Ungku Aziz.