Mohd Fadzil speaking during the forum at Unimas campus yesterday. Also seen are Dr Mohamad Kadim (second right), Lau (right) and Dr Mohammad Affendy. — Photo by Matthew Umpang
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is confident the government will at least maintain this year’s budget allocation for Institutes of Higher Learning, IPTAs, in the country although no specific allocation was announced for IPTAs in the 2016 budget.
Speaking at a forum held at the university’s campus in Kota Samarahan, vice chancellor Prof Dato Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi commented that the university would look for ways to diversify its revenue base if there was no additional allocation next year.
The forum which comprised a panel of four persons, namely Dr. Mohamad Kadim, Prof Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahman, Evan Lau (Associate professor for Faculty of Economics and Business) and Dr Mohammad Affendy Arip (Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship Development) was held in conjunction with the tabling of Budget 2016 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Parliament on Friday.
“We are inclined to generate a part of our own income hence we are looking forward to work with the various sectors and industries. Our services will include providing consultancy and manpower for these industries,” said Dr Mohamad Kadim.
He noted that all public IPTs were encouraged by the government to generate at least 25 per cent of their income in the future.
“For Unimas, we will be playing an active role in developing the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).”
Meanwhile Mohd Fadzil commented that the budget 2016 focusses more on the prosperity of the people, hence Malaysians should benefit from the new features of the budget introduced by the government.
“With an increase of RM7 billion compared to the 2015 budget, it shows that the government wants to do their best in lessening the burden of the people, especially parents who have children who are still studying.
“By announcing RM100 school aid for households with income below RM3,000 to benefit 3.5 million students, for example, is a good move by the government. You can never go wrong in investing in education,” he said.
The panel welcomed the move by the government to prioritise on Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) in order to increase the number of skilled workers by the year 2020.
TVET is an area which Unimas hopes to explore in order to diversify its products in the future.
Other issues deliberated by the panel were the benefits derived for not imposing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on essential goods including controlled medicine for cancer, diabetes and high-blood pressure.
This will benefit people who are in dire need of medication but have to incur the heavy burden of buying the medication.