SAL takes over MIIM

THE Malaysian Institute of Integrative Media (MIIM), formerly known as Akademi TV3, will come under a new management upon the completion of its acquisition by the SAL Group of Colleges from TV3. 

The move is part of TV3's continuing corporate restructuring exercise to refocus its resources on its core business – broadcasting and related activities. 

TV3 chief financial officer Amrin Awaluddin says it is a win-win agreement for both parties. ''For TV3, it signifies two things: Firstly, we are a step closer to streamlining our business, and secondly, we still get to keep in touch with MIIM. As the founders of MIIM, we feel it is time to hand the institution over to those who can take it to the next level of growth.” 

Amrin says TV3 expects to continue its involvement in MIIM by offering consultative input for the institute's curriculum and offering its students practical training. 

ALL SET:(From left)TV3 Subsidiaries general manager Ahmad Puad Onah,Amrin,TV3 CEO Farid Ridzuan,SAL Groupof Colleges director Abdul Latif Abdul Ghani and SAL CEO Dr Wan Rohana Merican at the signing ceremony.

SAL Group of Colleges board of governors chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Ghani said the acquisition is in line with SAL's goal to venture into the broadcasting communications sector. 

''MIIM is the ideal addition to our group as it enables SAL to strengthen its existing IT, multimedia and communication courses. “We are currently the only local institution applying for university-college status that offers broadcasting and communications and we intend to be the first to achieve it,'' he says. 

MIIM was established to provide manpower training to TV3 in 1995. It expanded from a training unit of the company's human resource department, to an academic institute offering broadcasting-related programmes, such as broadcasting, multimedia, film and communication, to tertiary students.