AIMST varsity is a symbol of multi-racial unity, says PM

SUNGAI PETANI: The Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) should collaborate with leading ICT companies in Kulim High Tech Park (KHTP) to tailor its curriculum to meet the industry needs.

“I believe the close proximity of AIMST and KHTP should be exploited for mutual benefit,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Sunday.

At the opening of the university’s new campus at Semeling, Bedong, on Sunday, Abdullah said through such a partnership, AIMST could build a strong reputation in producing software engineers and business process outsourcing professionals which the nation needed urgently.

AIMST is a private university formed by Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED), MIC's education arm, on March 15 2001. It was conferred university status in April 2007. Its first campus was set up in Aman Jaya here where 24 three-storey shoplots were used as their school.

The university currently has 2,300 undergraduates pursuing Bachelor’s degree courses in medicine and health sciences, dentistry, engineering and computer technology, applied sciences and business and management.

Abdullah said the opening of the university marked the completion of Malaysia’s educational development phase whereby five private colleges were chosen to become universities in their own right.

“I believe AIMST can play a leading role in developing skilled human capital in the medical, scientific and technological fields which would benefit Malaysia and the world,” he said.

He said the university is also a symbol of Malaysia's multi-ethnic unity.

“The university, which caters for all, is evidence that Malaysians could stand united as one and not be divided by racial or ethnic lines,” he said.

He said the Government recognised the efforts put in by all parties, particularly by ethnic-Indian Malaysians to develop AIMST University, as a means to provide quality educational opportunities and uplift the socio-economic standing of all Malaysians.

Abdullah said the Government would continue to lend its support to ensure AIMST achieved its mission.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the idea to build a university was mooted when he noticed that many qualified students were not given places in public universities.

AIMST chairman Tan Sri Dr K. Ampikaipakan said the university was given the approval last week to conduct PhD courses in bio-technology, adding that it had the nation’s first private dental hospital housing 125 dental chairs.

Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, AIMST vice-chancellor Prof Geoffrey Smith, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs committee V. Arumugam, who represented Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, and other party leaders.