Bandar seri iskandar: Anwar Meeting with Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) Students’ programme here today provided an opportunity for students to interact directly with the country’s leadership, reflecting confidence in the younger generation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the programme held at the UTP Chancellery served as a platform for students to discuss future job issues, new technological challenges, and the need to build a workforce that is not only highly skilled but also ethical, innovative, and resilient.
UTP president Mohamed Firous Asnan expressed the university’s honour in welcoming the Prime Minister, highlighting his longstanding commitment to education, an effort marked by his previous tenure as Education Minister. Anwar’s leadership was pivotal in curriculum reform and expanding educational access, making education a cornerstone of national development.
Mohamed Firous noted Anwar’s past reputation as a youth icon and advocate for the underprivileged, further emphasizing the Prime Minister’s growing faith in universities’ strategic roles amidst Malaysia’s significant economic, technological, and societal transformations.
He pointed out that initiatives like the MADANI Economy, the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) underscore the Prime Minister’s emphasis on universities as innovation hubs and pillars of national resilience.
During the event, Anwar delivered a lecture titled ‘Universities as Strategic Assets: Planning Malaysia’s Future through Talent, Technology, and Transformation,’ and visited UTP’s Integrated Engineering Department, indicative of the university’s strides in science and technology.
Anwar was also briefed on UTP’s active research in nuclear fusion and smart materials, showcasing the university’s scientific exploration capabilities and its foundation in the oil and gas industry.
Previously, Anwar inaugurated Malaysia’s largest single-roof solar panel system at UTP, a project developed with Gentari, featuring over 13,000 PV modules. This system, with a capacity of 7.4 megawatts, meets 25 per cent of UTP’s electricity needs and reduces its electricity bill by approximately 11 per cent, aligning with UTP’s sustainability goals.
The event was attended by Perak Chief Minister Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
UTP, founded by PETRONAS in 1997, is dedicated to developing future talent and advancing research with societal and industrial benefits, operating as a living laboratory for engineering and technological innovation in its biodiversity-rich campus.