Bruce Chai
MIRI: Being home of the first oil well in the country, Miri should have a petroleum university and an information communication technology (ICT) university built here.
Chairman of UPP Pujut branch Bruce Chai said Miri had vast human capital to support such institutions to be sited here.
“This Resort City has such great human capital with diverse fields of knowledge that have been nurtured over 100 years or so as the oil and gas centre of Malaysia.
“Our economy and business culture has always been a step ahead of most towns and cities in Malaysia because of the transfer of technology and knowledge brought about by the industry,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He added that education is also an industry capable of creating more job opportunities for the local people.
“Miri is already home to Curtin University Malaysia, Institute Training Industry (ILP), National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) and numerous other private colleges, and vocational schools.
“The setting up of more national or international universities here will help to put Miri on the forefront of educational excellence in the region.”
Chai added that education and tourism could complement each other, and Miri would also be a great education hub for those who wanted to pursue tertiary studies.
He believed that enhancing the education development here would generate spin-off effects particular in the creation of more jobs in housing and commercial sector, food and beverage, and consumerism.
“Miri needs jobs and market forces alone may not be enough to achieve it, therefore, we have to work with the state government to ensure that Miri gets its support for a new lease of vibrancy.”