By Noor Eszereen Juferi
PUTRAJAYA, 9 April – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) continues to strengthen its position as a leader in Borneo regional development through the implementation of the Borneo Initiative: Sabah–Sarawak–UPM, following a courtesy visit to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak), Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud, today.
The visit served as an important platform to enhance strategic collaboration between higher education institutions and the federal government towards accelerating inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development in Sabah and Sarawak.
The initiative adopts a comprehensive approach based on four main pillars: education, innovation, talent development and community, designed to address regional development challenges and strengthen Borneo’s economic resilience.
UPM Vice-Chancellor, Dato’ Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, said the university is committed to expanding access to quality education, particularly in rural areas, while enhancing student and academic mobility across states and institutions.
“In terms of innovation, UPM focuses on transforming the agricultural sector through smart technologies such as digital agriculture, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) to strengthen national food security,” he said.
He added that the talent development pillar emphasises the empowerment of TVET, entrepreneurship, and young agropreneurs to produce a highly skilled and competitive workforce.
“At the same time, UPM is committed to driving inclusive community development through knowledge transfer, improving living standards and bridging the development gap between urban and rural areas,” he said.
Dato’ Prof. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Farhan also stressed that the strategic approach aligns with UPM’s strengths as a research university leading in agriculture, science and sustainability.
“UPM continues to strengthen the national food security agenda through the implementation of the Food Security Blueprint, which is now a reference at both national and Asia-Pacific regional levels,” he said.
Director of Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak (UPMS), Prof. Dr. Shahrul Razid Sarbini, said that strategic collaboration between universities and regions is key to Borneo’s sustainable development.
“Among the high-impact projects highlighted are AgriHub@Gedong as a model for smart agricultural transformation, the establishment of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (SVAS), and the strengthening of the Borneo Universities Consortium (KUUB) as a platform for regional collaboration.
“These projects not only support the regional development agenda under the BIMP-EAGA framework but also enhance food security, empower youth and improve the well-being of rural communities in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
Also present were UPM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr. Zamberi Sekawi, Senior Private Secretary to the Minister, Khairul Iswadi Ishak, and Special Officer to the Minister, Mohd Faiz Zainol Abidin.
