Six new UiTM campuses to be built using initiative

PUTRAJAYA: Six new Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campuses will be built nationwide through the private finance initiative (PFI) to achieve the target of 200,0000 student intake.Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said yesterday the campuses would be built in Pasir Gudang in Johor, Jasin in Melaka, Seremban 3 in Negeri Sembilan, Samarahan in Sarawak, Puncak Alam in Selangor and Tapah in Perak.

“Each campus will cost RM300 million and will be able to accommodate 5,000 students. The campuses are expected to be fully operational in about 15 months,” he told reporters.

Earlier, Mohamed Khaled witnessed the signing of an agreement under the Build, Lease, Maintain and Transfer concept between Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) and Pengurusan Konsesi Asrama Sdn Bhd (Peka).

UTeM was represented by its vice-chancellor, Datuk Dr Ahmad Yusoff Hassan, and Peka, by its director, Nazli Khir Johari. Under the agreement, nine blocks of five-storey hostel buildings, which could accommodate up to 3,000 students, would be built on a 28.3ha site in Durian Tunggal, Melaka.

The constructions is expected to be completed in two years.

Apart from that, two student arcades and 10 housing units for hostel fellows and principals would also be built at a cost of RM73 million and each student will be charged an annual rental of RM1,579.50.

UTeM is the second local university to build its hostel under the concept, after Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris. — Bernama