Bintulu: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has consented to the rebranding of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Bintulu Campus in Sarawak as UPM Sarawak (UPMS). Sultan Sharafuddin said the rebranding was a strategic move by UPM to expand its role in conjunction with the university's 50th anniversary in Sarawak. UPM was formerly known as Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sultan Sharafuddin expressed pride in the university's achievements, highlighting its role as a center of excellence in agriculture, forestry, and food security, as well as a catalyst for national development, especially in Sarawak. He emphasized the university's competitiveness in the Borneo region and its international standing. His Royal Highness underscored the importance of UPM's commitment to developing talent and expertise to advance the country's socio-economic progress, particularly in Sarawak, through the UPM Food Security Blueprint.
Sultan Sharafuddin was accompanied by the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, at the UPMS Proclamation Ceremony. Also present were Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Dr. Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
In his speech, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari highlighted that the strengthening of UPMS aligns with the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030), particularly in the agriculture, forestry, and renewable energy sectors. He noted the significance of the AgriHub@Gedong project, a strategic collaboration between the university and the Sarawak Premier's Office. This project aims to transform padi cultivation activities in Lubok Punggor, Gedong, positioning Sarawak as a high-impact padi production hub at the national level.
Abang Johari also announced the establishment of the School of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (SVAS) in collaboration with UPMS to support Sarawak's food security goals. He assured the state government's commitment to providing funding for SVAS, which will be the first model of its kind involving a partnership between the Sarawak government and a public university. The school aims to offer more opportunities for Sarawakian youth to study veterinary science, thereby strengthening the livestock industry's sustainability and improving animal health standards in Sarawak.