Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya

18/08/2026

18/08/2026

Today, Universiti Malaya and PERKESO renewed more than a partnership. We renewed a shared national commitment to ensure that knowledge delivers protection, dignity and opportunity to the people who need it most.

My relationship with PERKESO is one that I personally cherish. Over the years, I have seen this collaboration move across the full chain of impact - from research and evidence, to policy and implementation, and ultimately to the lives of Malaysians. That is the true value of partnership, for the benefit of nation-building and improving the productivity and quality of life for all Malaysians.

Since 2018, UM and PERKESO have built a strong foundation through the Social Wellbeing Research Centre, supported by PERKESO’s RM10 million commitment for 2021–2030. Today’s renewal for 2026–2030 must take us even further.

The world of work is changing rapidly. AI, automation, demographic ageing, new employment models and economic volatility are redefining how people work, retire and protect their livelihoods. Social protection can therefore no longer be merely a safety net. It must become part of Malaysia’s strategic infrastructure.

This is where UM must bring its best minds, research and data to the table, while PERKESO brings national reach, institutional experience and the ability to translate evidence into action.

The strongest partnerships do not merely share resources. They multiply national capability.

Our ambition is clear: to move from research to foresight, from evidence to ex*****on, and from collaboration to national transformation - building a social protection ecosystem that is more anticipatory, inclusive and resilient.

Ultimately, success will not be measured by how many reports we produce. It will be measured by whether workers are better protected, families are more secure, older Malaysians can age with dignity, and future generations enter a changing world with greater confidence.

Knowledge without impact is unfinished work.

Universiti Malaya is proud to walk this journey with PERKESO - not simply for the next five years, but for the next generation of national impact we can create together.

Home of the Bright, Land of the Brave
Di Sini Bermulanya Pintar, Tanah Tumpahnya Berani

18/08/2026

I had the pleasure of attending the Inaugural Lecture of Professor Dr Hasniza Zaman Huri, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International) of Universiti Malaya, entitled “More Than Medicine: Designing a Transformative Future.”

An inaugural lecture is more than a celebration of professorship. It is a reflection of a scholar’s journey - of questions pursued, knowledge created, institutions strengthened and lives impacted.

Professor Hasniza’s journey embodies exactly that. From clinical pharmacy and precision medicine, to leading clinical research, establishing the Faculty of Pharmacy, and now shaping UM’s academic and international agenda, her career has consistently connected knowledge with purpose, and scholarship with transformation.

Her lecture carried an important message: knowledge reaches its highest value when it changes outcomes. Universities, too, must be more than centres of teaching and research. We must create possibility, unlock talent and shape the future.

I am particularly proud of Professor Hasniza’s longstanding service and loyalty to Universiti Malaya. Leadership is ultimately not about the position we hold, but what becomes stronger because we were there.

Congratulations, Prof Hasniza, on this important academic milestone. May your scholarship continue to challenge us, your leadership continue to strengthen UM, and your journey continue to inspire the next generation.

The future does not simply happen. It is designed.

16/08/2026

To our 51 Universiti Malaya athletes who represented their respective contingents at SUKMA - you have our appreciation and admiration.

Every time you stepped onto the field, court, track or arena, you carried more than your own ambition. You carried the discipline, resilience and fighting spirit that define the UM community.

At Universiti Malaya, we believe excellence is never confined to lecture halls or laboratories. It is also forged through sacrifice, training, courage and the determination to keep pushing beyond limits.

Whether you return with a medal or with the invaluable experience of having competed among the nation’s best athletes, you have already made UM proud.

Thank you for your commitment, your perseverance and for showing what it means to pursue excellence with purpose.

To all our SUKMA athletes: UM stands proudly with you. Keep striving. Keep inspiring. Keep raising the bar.

Tahniah dan syabas, Team UM!

Home of the Bright, Land of the Brave
Di Sini Bermulanya Pintar, Tanah Tumpahnya Berani

14/08/2026

It is always a privilege to welcome fellow academics who share the same determination to strengthen higher education through excellence, collaboration and continuous advancement.

I was pleased to receive a courtesy call and academic benchmarking visit from the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) to Universiti Malaya.

Beyond the exchange of ideas and institutional practices, visits such as this carry a larger purpose. Universities must increasingly learn from one another, combine strengths and build stronger academic ecosystems that can respond to rapidly evolving demands in health sciences, education, research and talent development.

Malaysia’s higher education institutions should not progress in isolation. Our collective strength lies in our ability to share expertise, benchmark against the highest standards, identify new areas of collaboration and continuously raise the quality of what we deliver to our students, researchers and society.

Health sciences in particular will become increasingly important as societies confront demographic change, technological disruption and changing healthcare needs. Our universities therefore have an important responsibility to develop graduates and researchers who are not only technically capable, but also future-ready, interdisciplinary and able to translate knowledge into meaningful societal impact.

At Universiti Malaya, we remain committed to strengthening partnerships across the national higher education ecosystem while ensuring that our own academic, research and institutional standards continue to be benchmarked against the best globally.

My appreciation to the delegation from the Faculty of Health Sciences, UniSZA for the meaningful engagement. I look forward to seeing this relationship develop into deeper academic and research collaboration, greater knowledge exchange and new opportunities that benefit both institutions and, ultimately, Malaysia.

Strong universities strengthen one another. And when our universities rise together, Malaysia rises with them.

13/08/2026

The future of a nation will always be built on the strength of its people. And that strength begins with health.

At the UM Youth Health Carnival 2026, I reminded our students that youth are not merely the leaders of tomorrow. They are already the nation’s most important reservoir of talent, ideas, energy and future capability.

As Malaysia moves into a more complex era shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, advanced technology, demographic change and global competition, our greatest strategic asset will not simply be infrastructure, capital or natural resources.

It will be people, who are ready to lead transformation. This is why youth health must never be treated as a peripheral agenda.Human capital cannot be empowered if human health is neglected.

A young person may possess exceptional intellect, creativity and ambition, but without physical wellbeing, mental resilience and the ability to manage pressure, that potential can never be fully realised.

For Universiti Malaya, our responsibility therefore extends beyond producing graduates with strong academic credentials.

We must develop individuals who can think critically, adapt quickly, lead confidently and sustain high performance in an increasingly demanding world.

That means building a culture where health is understood not merely as the absence of illness, but as a foundation for excellence, productivity and long-term human potential.

I am therefore encouraged by initiatives such as the UM Youth Health Carnival and Program Siswa Sihat (PROSIS), which strengthen health literacy, personal responsibility, peer support and early awareness among our students.

Our students must not be passive recipients of health messages. They must become owners of their own wellbeing and, ultimately, agents of positive change within their communities.

Malaysia’s future competitiveness will increasingly depend on its ability to build, retain and empower the strongest possible talent bank.

And the competition of the future will not simply be about who has the most resources. It will be about who has the best people - the talent, resilience and capacity to lead transformation.

At Universiti Malaya, we will continue to invest not only in world-class education, research and innovation, but also in the people who will carry these ambitions forward.

Because a world-class university must do more than develop great minds. It must develop great people.

10/08/2026

My sincere appreciation to YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad for graciously receiving us and giving me the opportunity to share the aspirations behind UM121, as Universiti Malaya marks 121 years of its institutional journey. I was also grateful for the opportunity to ask about Tun’s wellbeing and to hear his reflections on the future of a university that has long been an important part of Malaysia’s national story.

During our conversation, Tun left Universiti Malaya with three meaningful messages.

First, he expressed his hope and prayer that Universiti Malaya will continue to be well managed.

Second, Tun emphasised the importance of integrity, good governance and sound management, so that UM continues to be guided by strong principles, trust and institutional responsibility.

Third, he reminded us that UM must continue to uphold its standards, standing and profile as a leading university.

These messages carry significant meaning for us. The excellence of a university cannot rest solely on its history or reputation. It must be continuously earned and protected through strong leadership, integrity, discipline and the courage to keep raising our standards.

UM121 is therefore not merely a celebration of our past. It is a commitment to ensuring that Universiti Malaya remains strong, respected and relevant, while continuing to carry Malaysia’s name to greater heights.
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Terima kasih kepada YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad atas kesudian menerima kunjungan kami dan memberi ruang untuk saya berkongsi mengenai inisiatif UM121, bersempena 121 tahun perjalanan Universiti Malaya. Saya juga amat menghargai kesempatan untuk bertanya khabar dan mendengar sendiri pandangan Tun mengenai masa depan universiti yang telah sekian lama menjadi sebahagian penting daripada sejarah dan pembangunan negara.

Dalam pertemuan ini, Tun menitipkan tiga pesanan yang amat bermakna kepada Universiti Malaya.

Pertama, Tun mendoakan agar Universiti Malaya terus ditadbir dan diurus dengan baik.

Kedua, Tun menekankan pentingnya integriti, tadbir urus yang baik dan pengurusan yang teratur, agar UM terus dipimpin berlandaskan prinsip, amanah dan tanggungjawab institusi.

Ketiga, Tun mengingatkan bahawa UM mesti terus mempertahankan standard, kedudukan dan profilnya sebagai sebuah universiti terkemuka.

Pesanan ini membawa makna yang besar kepada kami. Kecemerlangan sebuah universiti tidak boleh hanya bergantung kepada sejarah dan reputasi yang telah dibina, tetapi mesti terus dipertahankan melalui kepimpinan yang berwibawa, integriti, disiplin dan keberanian untuk sentiasa meningkatkan standard.

UM121 bukan sekadar meraikan sejarah. Ia adalah komitmen untuk memastikan Universiti Malaya terus berdiri teguh, dihormati dan relevan, serta terus membawa nama Malaysia ke tahap yang lebih tinggi.

07/08/2026

World-class ambition must always be matched by world-class facilities, infrastructure and an environment that enables excellence to thrive.

I was pleased to inspect some of the latest assets and facilities at the Faculty of Built Environment, and to see first-hand the continuous improvements being made to strengthen our teaching, learning and research ecosystem.

For a leading university, facilities and academic assets are never merely supporting elements. They are an integral part of the quality of education we provide, the research we produce, and the experience we create for our students, academics and researchers.

The tools, technologies, laboratories, learning spaces and research infrastructure available to our community directly influence the quality of ideas that can be explored, the depth of research that can be undertaken, and ultimately the ability of our graduates and researchers to compete and contribute at the highest level.

This is why Universiti Malaya will continue to place strong emphasis on ensuring that our academic facilities and assets do not simply meet basic requirements, but progressively meet, benchmark against and, where possible, set world-class standards.

Our students deserve access to facilities that prepare them for the realities of a rapidly changing professional and technological environment. Our researchers must be equipped with the necessary infrastructure to undertake ambitious, high-impact and frontier research. Our academics must be supported by an ecosystem that enables them to teach, innovate and collaborate at their highest potential.

A university cannot aspire to remain globally relevant while depending on infrastructure designed only for the needs of the past.

Our responsibility is therefore not simply to maintain what we have, but to continuously renew, upgrade and future-proof the physical and technological foundations of the University.

The latest assets at the Faculty of Built Environment are part of this wider institutional commitment. In disciplines where technology, design, planning, sustainability, engineering applications and the built environment are evolving rapidly, our facilities must equally evolve so that students are exposed to contemporary practices and researchers are able to undertake work that responds to emerging national and global challenges.

I was equally pleased to continue monitoring the progress of the ongoing rooftop replacement programme across numerous buildings on the UM campus.

The latest progress currently being monitored includes the rooftop replacement works at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, which form part of the broader programme of infrastructure renewal and physical rejuvenation taking place across the University.

Some may see the replacement of roofs, upgrading of buildings, renewal of academic assets or improvement of teaching spaces as routine infrastructure work.

I see them differently.

They represent an important part of institutional transformation.

A university is an ecosystem. Excellence in research and education cannot be separated from the quality, safety, resilience and functionality of the physical environment in which our community works and learns.

When ageing infrastructure is renewed, when academic assets are upgraded, when facilities become safer and more resilient, and when teaching and research spaces are modernised, we are strengthening the institutional foundations upon which future excellence will be built.

This is particularly important for a university with the history and legacy of Universiti Malaya. Our heritage is a source of immense strength, but heritage must never become an excuse for stagnation.

We must preserve what is valuable from our past while ensuring that our infrastructure, capabilities and institutional mindset remain fully prepared for the future.

This is why physical rejuvenation, infrastructure modernisation and future-driven readiness will continue to remain priorities for Universiti Malaya.

The work is ongoing, and it must be. Across the campus, we will continue to identify areas requiring renewal, upgrade critical infrastructure, improve facilities, strengthen resilience, modernise academic assets and ensure that our physical environment evolves alongside our academic ambitions.

This is not transformation for appearance's sake. It is transformation with purpose.

Every upgraded facility, every renewed building, every new academic asset and every improvement to our campus environment must ultimately contribute towards a stronger experience for our students, better conditions for our academics and researchers, and greater capacity for the University to fulfil its national and global responsibilities.

Our campus community must be able to see and experience the progress of the institution around them.

And as we strengthen UM's global standing, our physical infrastructure must increasingly reflect the same level of ambition that we expect from our scholarship, research, talent and institutional performance.

World-class standards are not achieved through rankings or reputation alone. They must be visible in how we teach, how we research, how we operate, how we maintain our campus and how seriously we invest in the people and infrastructure that will shape our future.

Universiti Malaya will therefore continue to rejuvenate, modernise and build with the long term in mind.

We are not simply maintaining a campus, but we are building an environment capable of supporting the next generation of thinkers, researchers, innovators and leaders, and ensuring that Malaysia's leading university remains ready not only for the demands of today, but for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow.

The standard we set for ourselves must always be higher, and the work of building a truly world-class university must never stop.

Home of the Bright, Land of the Brave
Di Sini Bermulanya Pintar, Tanah Tumpahnya Berani

06/08/2026

World-class innovation is not only about creating new technology. It is also about giving existing technology a new purpose.

Universiti Malaya has introduced a Smartphone Charging Station at UM Sentral, an innovation that integrates solar energy with the repurposing of a second-life BMW electric vehicle battery.

Developed through a strategic collaboration between UMPEDAC, the Universiti Malaya Sustainability and Development Centre (UMSDC), and BMW Group Malaysia, the station stores solar energy in a repurposed EV battery before supplying power to smartphones and other mobile devices.

This is more than a charging facility.

It is a tangible demonstration of how universities, industry and technology can work together to develop low-carbon solutions, extend the useful life of EV batteries and accelerate the transition towards a circular economy.

We must continue to lead new ideas that can be translated into real-world solutions for society. Our campus is not merely a place where knowledge is imparted. It must also function as a living laboratory for innovation, sustainability and the technologies of the future.

The world does not need more slogans about sustainability. It needs solutions that can be seen, used and scaled.

This is the direction of Universiti Malaya - leading change, delivering solutions and setting new benchmarks for a smarter and more sustainable future.

Home of the Bright, Land of the Brave
Di Sini Bermulanya Pintar, Tanah Tumpahnya Berani