KLANG: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Acmar Group formalised a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) at a ceremony held at Wyndham Acmar Hotel, here on Monday (Nov 10).
The signing was witnessed by Klang mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Husain and Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) Public HEI Governance division director Izamael Zamzuri Ismail.
Izamael represented the ministry’s director-general Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman.
The event also saw the official launch of Bandar Baru Klang Catalytic Development Master Plan International Design Competition 2025/2026, a global initiative co-supported by the Belt and Road Architectural University International Consortium (Brauic), Klang Royal City Council and Higher Education Ministry.
The MoU outlines a framework for collaboration in urban planning, academic research, student development, and community engagement, while the MoA governs the implementation of the Master Plan.
During his speech, Abd Hamid said this initiative is not just a competition but also a platform for networking thinkers and designers from over 100 universities in over 40 countries to jointly envision the future of Bandar Baru Klang.
“As the royal city, Klang has a rich heritage and an important strategic position. The transformation of Bandar Baru Klang into a sustainable, inclusive and internationally recognised area is in line with our aspiration to build a city that is superior in terms of planning, identity and global appeal.
“I would like to express my appreciation to UTAR for their leadership in organising this international collaboration, and to the Acmar Group for their strategic sponsorship and continued dedication to the development of Klang.
“This collaboration demonstrates the synergy between academia and industry – working together to create a city that is not only functional, but also inspiring,” he said.
Izamael, who read Dr Azlinda’s speech, said the collaboration is a testament to the ministry’s vision of fostering strategic partnerships between academia and industry, where knowledge meets real-world application.
"Let us continue to build a higher education ecosystem that is inclusive, innovative, and internationally connected—one that empowers our youth and uplifts our communities.”
Meanwhile UTAR president Ir Prof Datuk Dr Ewe Hong Tat said the formation of the alliance reflects the shared vision to drive innovation, strengthen research and nurture future talents that will contribute to the economic, social and environment growth.
“This is another milestone in our collaboration with industry experts. We are making the vision a reality through the collaborative project (master plan competition) which will bring about urban regeneration to make Bandar Baru Klang a more resilient, inclusive and vibrant city,” he said.
“As sponsor and strategic partner, we are proud to support youth innovation and urban transformation. Bandar Baru Klang is more than a project; it is our long-term vision for Bandar Diraja Klang as a modern hub of health, finance, and logistics. Let us build not just buildings, but the future,” said Acmar Group group executive director Johnson Tee Kim Hock.
The international design competition will culminate in July 2026 with an award ceremony.
Winning teams may be invited to collaborate further with UTAR and Acmar Group to refine their proposals for submission to local authorities, contributing to the long-term master planning of Bandar Baru Klang.
