Xiamen’s Malaysia campus progressing smoothly, says Ong

Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, the Prime Minister

PETALING JAYA: Construction works are progressing smoothly and on track for Xiamen University’s Malaysia Campus – the Chinese university’s first campus abroad.

Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, the Prime Minister’s special envoy to China, said the campus was expected to be up and running by the end of the year.

Xiamen University China is ranked 11th in China, according to the University Undergraduates Teaching Assessment and Chinese Universities Evaluation Standings.

Ong was briefed by Xiamen University China president Zhu Chongshi on the project’s development during a courtesy call yesterday.

“Zhu mentioned that there were some challenges faced by the project team at the work site,” Ong said in a statement yesterday.

“However, they are confident of completing the basic infrastructure works and buildings for the initial phase for it to be operational by the targeted date,” he said.

Ong added that the overall deve­lopment of the campus included infrastructure development, staff and student recruitment exercise as well as financing planning and arrangement with supporting banks.

The ground-breaking ceremony was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last July 3.

The campus, covering 60.7ha will have the capacity to house 10,000 students and is expected to accept students from Malaysia, China and South-East Asia.

It was founded in 1921 by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Tan Kah Kee, a Chinese businessman who achieved success in Malaysia in the early 20th century.