UUM has contributed to Kedah, says state Umno chief

UNIVERSITI Utara Malaysia (UUM) has made notable contributions to Kedah in the field of academics and brought in development as well as created various socio-economic opportunities in nearby areas.

Kedahans are proud of having UUM in Sintok, state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said.

Since the university was set up in 1984, it had produced thousands of graduates and helped conduct research, some of which were used for developing the state better, Ahmad Bashah said.

Thus, he said that Kedahans are generally sad to see that the university’s presence here, is now politicised.

“Kedahans know the value of the university and they know that it should be protected and assisted so it could be administrated well,” he said after meeting students from Kedah at UUM.

A total of 1,300 Kedah-born UUM students attended the meeting.

He said that UUM has also transformed northern Kedah especially near Changlun, as commercial interests had increased in the area, which is next to the Bukit Kayu Hitam border crossing.

“Locals living near the campus have experienced the economic spillover effects,” he said.

Recently, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak refuted claims that the state government had increased the quit rent of UUM by more than 10 times since 2008.

He said the university paid RM100,000 in quit rent between 2006 and 2008 under rebates approved by the then Barisan Nasional government in Kedah.

“UUM was given rebates for three years previously. After it ended, the university had to pay the normal rate of RM1.74mil,” he said.

UUM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Mustafa had claimed the university used to pay RM150,000 in quit rent, which increased to RM1.8mil after the Opposition took over the state.