DRB-Hicom launches country’s first automotive varsity project
PEKAN: The DRB-Hicom University of Automotive Malaysia (DHU) is seen as a complement to the education field besides meeting the needs of the country’s automotive industry, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister said DRBHicom’s initiative to set up the first such university in the ASEAN region with a big fund of RM350 million for the first phase of the university’s development should be commended and appreciated as it was rare that a private company was willing to undertake it.
“I am proud when a private company is willing to invest large funds to generate skilled manpower for the requirement of its company and automotive industry in and outside the country.
“Usually they pass the responsibility to the government to provide courses and establish the institutions concerned. Hence the move by the university to invest RM350 million to set up this university is greatly acclaimed,” he said.
He was speaking at the opening of the DHU, which was officiated by Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah who represented Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Also present at the ceremony were the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and Group Managing Director of DRB-Hicom Bhd, Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil.
At the ceremony, Tengku Abdullah was also installed as the university’s first chancellor.
Najib said the university would also be equipped with other facilities, including in the field of research and development (R&D) with an investment of RM150 million, bringing the total funds invested to RM500 million.
According to him, the establishment of the university was timely and he was proud of the people of Pahang and Pekan, especially now with two universities in the area apart from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP).
“Previously known as the International College of Automotive (ICAM), it has f lourished and advanced to becoming a higher education institution of quality in the last five and a half years.
“It was conferred a full university status in October last year offering bachelor, master and doctoral degree programmes,” he said.
Najib attributed ICAM’s success in being a university today to the hard work of the university’s staff and management especially by fulfilling all the conditions set by the Ministry of Higher Education.
The Prime Minister also said that all these facilities would not have come into existence without the consent of Sultan Ahmad Shah and Tengku Abdullah who have been a driving force providing the impetus leading to Pahang’s progress.