Momentous: Megawati engaging with Indonesian students at UTAR after receiving her honorary doctorate. Joining her in the procession is Prof Ewe (far right). — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
ALL youths should have equal access to quality education regardless of financial background.
With that overarching belief, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) has, to date, given out over RM190.6mil worth of internal scholarships and RM14.3mil worth of zero-interest internal loans to 20,227 deserving students.
Furthermore, a total of 84,315 students have been able to pursue their tertiary studies at the varsity, thanks to RM23.8mil worth of external scholarships, and RM1.3bil worth of National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans and external loans.
This, said UTAR president Prof Datuk Dr Ewe Hong Tat, is one of the ways the varsity has been contributing to the betterment of society.
He added that the varsity also plays its part in contributing towards a better future for the environment and the nation by focusing on research and development (R&D) which plays a crucial role in improving the efficient use of the world’s limited resources.
“The varsity has established 35 research centres to support R&D projects.
“It has received more than RM77mil of external R&D funding and has disbursed RM87.8mil of internal R&D funding with a total of 339 ongoing research projects,” he said.
He added that to further enhance the effectiveness of its R&D initiatives, the varsity has entered into memoranda of understanding with local and international industries, and other institutions of higher learning.
“Currently, UTAR has more than 590 industry and university partners from 30 economies, with collaborations in research, information and knowledge exchanges, training, and student exchanges,” he said.
Speaking at a recent ceremony where former Indonesian president Prof Dr Megawati Soekarnoputri was presented with an honorary doctorate, Prof Ewe said over the years, UTAR has collaborated with 15 Indonesian universities in staff and student exchanges, joint research and commercialisation, conferences, training and knowledge exchange.
“Such collaborations enable us to work together in support of education and human capital development for both countries,” he said.
He added that as part of the varsity’s commitment to giving back to society, UTAR Hospital has been established to provide quality and affordable medical and health services in both Western medicine and traditional and complementary medicine (TCM), including Chinese, Ayurvedic, and traditional Malay medicine.
“In April last year, the TCM Centre began its operation, offering services in internal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion, tui na, gua sha, cupping, and counselling.
“So far, more than 40,000 patient visits have been recorded at the centre.
“The Western medical services started operations on Aug 1 this year, offering health-screening, imaging, and in-patient and out-patient specialist services to the public, after obtaining approval from the Health Ministry,” he said.
At the conferment ceremony held at UTAR Sungai Long campus in Kajang, Selangor, on Oct 2, Megawati received an honorary Doctor of Social Science from UTAR council chairman Tan Sri Dr Ting Chew Peh.
“Megawati’s acceptance of this honorary doctorate degree is especially meaningful as this is the first honorary doctorate in social science to be awarded by UTAR,” said Prof Ewe.
He added that the award is aligned with one of UTAR’s six educational pillars, namely, sociality and humanitarianism, which highlights the importance of humanistic contribution to society.
“UTAR believes that great leaders who have made transformative impacts on the lives of people in the community are also role models of society for others to emulate for the continuous progress of the nation,” he said.
The conferment was in honour of Megawati’s contributions, particularly in education, as well as her tireless dedication to advancing social and political discourse in Indonesia and beyond.
Expressing her appreciation for the honorary doctorate, Megawati said not only is UTAR’s name well-known in Malaysia and Indonesia, but its intellectual tradition has been recognised globally.
“This is inseparable from the pioneering of Tunku Abdul Rahman as one of the founding fathers of Malaysia,” she said.
She added that the award carries not only academic responsibility, but also responsibility for a better future of the earth and humanity.
Megawati, who is the daughter of Indonesia’s first president Sukarno, served as the fifth president of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004.
She is the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman, and the chair of the steering committee of Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
Among Megawati’s entourage at the ceremony were Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Hermono and Indonesia’s House Speaker Puan Maharani, who is also Megawati’s daughter.
Also present to witness the ceremony were Higher Education director-general Prof Dr Azlinda Azman, UTAR chancellor Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and his wife Toh Puan Ena Ling, UTAR council members Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, Tan Sri Chor Chee Heung, Datuk Lim Si Cheng, Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Hew Fen Yee, and Datuk Lee Leck Cheng, who is also a board of trustees member, as well as another board of trustees member Datuk Seri Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan.
