Page 3 - 73rd Issue info kampus : UiTM Sarawak Bulletin

Message 3

from the Rector

ince its establishment on 1 is replacing the street lighting with solar lighting. Seeking alternative
July 1973, Universiti Teknologi energy sources and reducing energy demand reduce cost and ensure
SMara (UiTM) Sarawak has more sustainability for the university.
had the support and cooperation
from the Sarawak State Government At the same time, with the budget cut, public universities are tasked
throughout all the years. On behalf to generate income to be self-sustainable. Towards this end, UiTM
of UiTM Sarawak, I convey my heartiest congratulations to Datuk Amar Sarawak set up of a Business Development Unit in 2016 with the main
Abang Zohari Abang Openg on his appointment as the 6 Chief Minister aim of generating income through collaborating and synergizing with
th
of Sarawak. I look forward to working closely with Datuk Amar to bring other stake holders to create business opportunities. In addition, this
development to our beloved state of Sarawak with UiTM Sarawak Business Development Unit also aims to commercialise the expertise
producing the much-needed qualified manpower. I also extend my and innovations of UiTM Sarawak. To achieve its objectives, the unit
deepest sympathy and condolence to Puan Sri Jamilah Anu and family has come up with 5 main initiatives namely, Distribution and Retailing,
on the sad demise of the late Chief Minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Production, Food Service, Facility Services as well as Event and
who had contributed greatly to the state of Sarawak. Under Datuk Amar Activities. UiTM Sarawak has a lot of facilities such as sports facilities,
Abang Zohari’s capable and strong leadership, I am sure that Sarawak auditorium and big halls which can be rented out to hold various
will continue to enjoy prosperity and progress. functions to generate income for the campus. As UiTM Sarawak is
new in the field of business, investments are minimized through
I hope that 2017 brings better tidings for UiTM Sarawak as we soar collaboration with outside agencies for mutual benefit. With UiTM
to reach greater heights of achievements. I am very grateful for the Sarawak’s uniqueness in having a pool of expertise from different
support of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Hassan faculties, highly differentiated products and services can be offered.
Said and our main campus, UiTM Shah Alam which has brought us The Strategic Business Unit (SBU), consisting of teams under different
to where we are today. 2016, which marked the 60 anniversary of faculties, lecturers or staff, was set up to market expertise and
th
UiTM, has been a remarkably successful year for us. It is very much an innovations. For example, photography service, which was introduced
encouragement for us here in Sarawak that Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri during the previous convocation, can be extended to cover other events
Dato’ Sri Haji Safri Awang Zaidell, a Sarawakian, has been appointed as such as convocations at other campuses and other universities as well
the Pro Chancellor of UITM at Istiadat Konvokesyen UiTM Ke-85 in UiTM as activities of clubs and students in different programmes.
Shah Alam. On behalf of the campus, I wish to convey our heartiest As a university, research is highly valued as it places the university
congratulations to him on this recognition and great achievement. ranking higher at national and international levels. In this time of
I would also like to thank the Sarawak State Government for awarding limited funding, it is very important that lecturers, who are embarking
me Anugerah Ma’al Hijrah, Pegawai Awam Contoh by His Excellency of on research projects, source funding from other external organisations,
Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, on 2 October 2016. At whether locally or abroad. I would like to encourage lecturers to
the same time, I take this opportunity to thank the staff and students collaborate and network with other organisations, especially those at
of UiTM Sarawak for their cooperation and support that have enabled international level. A number of conferences have been planned for
me to carry out my job efficiently and effectively. Together we will 2017 and 2018. These include the First International Alumni Conference
soar to reach greater heights of achievement.
(IAC 2017), the International Conference of Emerging Trend in
Integrated Pest and Disease Management for Quality Food Production,
This year, 2017 is a challenging year for UiTM Sarawak as public the International Conference on Drone and its Applications, the
universities have their combined operating budgets reduced by about First International Conference on Traditional Knowledgement and
19 per cent, or RM1.5 billion, a bigger cut than 2016. Out of the 20 public Biodiversity Management, the Second International Conference on
universities including many top-ranking institutions in Malaysia, 10 of Biotourism as well as the International Conference on International
them face massive cuts ranging from over 10 per cent to over 31 per cent. Business Management and Entrepreneur Development
As for UiTM, RM563 million or 25.2 % of its operating budget has been
reduced. With this considerable drastic budget reduction, there is an Teamwork has always been excellent in UiTM Sarawak. Therefore, the
urgent need to make changes in financial management. The government level of achievement that the campus has attained is due to the ability
encourages public universities, which have been generating income for and commitment of the staff to work together for the betterment of
the past nine years, to be more financially sustainable. Therefore, the the campus and the university. I am very happy that we have a team
staff and students of UiTM Sarawak need to take proactive cost saving of dedicated and committed highly caliber staff who work hard and
measures. One effective cost saving measure is to turn off electrical cooperate well to bring us to where we are today. Despite all the
appliances such as air conditioners and computers that are not in use. obstacles and challenges faced, as a family, UiTM Sarawak has
In this digital age, it is unnecessary to print everything as documents managed to overcome all the odds and emerge successful.
can be stored digitally. Reducing the use of paper can save a lot of
cost and at the same time reduce the need to cut down our trees. This Once again, thank you to the staff and students of UiTM Sarawak for
saves not only our environment but also a lot of cost. UiTM Sarawak making our campus and university an excellent place to work and
has expanded by leaps and bounds as we now have three campuses, study in.
namely Samarahan 1, Samarahan 2 and Mukah. There is a remarkable
increase in student population but budget allocation has been reduced
substantially. Consequently, the pressing need to reduce the university
expenditure, particularly the utility bills, forms the basis for the green
initiative undertaken by the university. For a start, Samarahan 1 campus Professor Dato Dr. Jamil Hamali