UMPSA receives total endowment exceeding RM80 million and launches Chancellor’s Endowment

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 September 2025 - Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) successfully raised endowments amounting to more than RM80 million through contributions from industry, community, and alumni towards sustainable financial resilience in empowering the quality and production of impactful research to elevate the university’s reputation on the global stage.

There are five endowments, namely the Chair Endowment, which leads expertise for specific research chairs in critical, high-impact areas, and the Research Endowment, which is the result of research driving national progress to meet industry needs through academic expertise.

Others include the Scholarship, Welfare and Student Welfare Endowment, the Community Endowment, and the Alumni Endowment.

His Royal Highness the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, who is also the UMPSA Chancellor, and Her Royal Highness Tengku Ampuan Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, graciously consented to attend and officiate the UMPSA Royal Hi Tea with Industry today.

His Royal Highness also graciously launched the Chancellor’s Endowment to support educational, research, and welfare activities for university excellence.

Present at the ceremony were the Minister of Higher Education, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir; Pahang State Executive Councillor for Agriculture, Agro-based Industry, Biotechnology and Education, Dato’ Sri Ir. Haji Mohd Soffi Tan Sri Abdul Razak, representing the Chief Minister of Pahang; Pro-Chancellor, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Abi Musa Asa’ari Mohamed Nor; Chairman of the UMPSA Board of Directors, Dato’ Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar; and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Yatimah Alias.

In her speech, Professor Dr. Yatimah said that the support of industry partners through this endowment is crucial in strengthening UMPSA’s research and innovation ecosystem as an Advanced TVET Hub in the ASEAN region.

“Today’s ceremony is a tangible proof and manifestation of UMPSA’s appreciation towards all strategic industry partners who have continuously provided support for the past 23 years.

“The collaboration established with more than 800 industries demonstrates a shared commitment towards the future of higher education and the nation’s industry.

“In line with the slogan ‘Technology for Society’ and the university’s expertise, UMPSA has proven its commitment to improving the standard of living of local communities by sustaining the nation’s agricultural sector and technological innovation through the IoT-based Smart Farming System, which has become a new solution for Bumiputera farmers, particularly the B40 group in rural areas,” she said.

She further added that the collaborative project between UMPSA and the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) has also increased the income of more than 50 Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs), created new employment opportunities across 33 locations in four districts of Pahang, namely Kuantan, Pekan, Maran, and Temerloh, since 2021, and successfully obtained a grant worth RM2.27 million under the Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development Fund Programme.

“Meanwhile, the Duck Layer and Broiler Farming Technology Transfer Project to Koperasi Komuniti Amanah Pahang Berhad has become a catalyst for the transformation of the rural community livestock sector in Pahang,” she said.
She expressed her gratitude to all industry partners for their collaborative contributions, which opened avenues for knowledge sharing and the generation of real-world solutions.

During the ceremony, His Royal Highness the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah, also witnessed the presentation of a mock cheque to the UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Yatimah Alias, worth RM50 million, presented by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Pahang Aerospace City (PACDB), Professor Muhamad Nurazmi Abas, and Managing Director of Kintsugi (K2), Sean Teoh.

Kintsugi (K2) is a government-owned company from Abu Dhabi focusing on advanced autonomous systems and AI-driven technology in collaboration with Pahang Aerospace City (PACDB).

This collaboration impacts the efforts to develop Pahang Aerospace City through the leading company, PACDB, in realising the Pahang State Government’s aspiration to become the first regional hub integrating aviation, aerospace, space, and future digital technologies.

Meanwhile, UMPSA will establish the first Venture Studio, which will serve as an innovation and commercialisation centre to produce start-ups in the fields of AI, autonomous systems, and mobility technology.

Endowments from PACDB and strategic partners support this initiative to empower local talents and provide high-impact research and development pathways.

The ceremony also witnessed a contribution from Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) Sdn. Bhd. as an industry collaboration partner in the Electric Smart Light Rail Transit (eSLRT) project at the Pekan Campus.

MRL contributed in-kind by donating 10 kilometres of used ECRL tracks worth RM19 million for prototype testing and demonstration purposes of the eSLRT system within the campus.

This contribution reflects MRL’s commitment to supporting sustainability and knowledge transfer while empowering UMPSA as a pioneer in developing green energy-based smart rail systems at both the campus and national levels.

For the Chair Endowment, potential strategic collaboration between the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) and UMPSA aims to develop and research biofuel technology from rubber scraps or latex.

Lestari Aero Industries Sdn. Bhd. and TG Minerals Sdn. Bhd. also contributed to the Chair Endowment, focusing on aerospace and rare earths.

Meanwhile, through the Alumni Endowment, the collaboration network between IBINA and Yayasan Peneraju will implement the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Programme at UMPSA.

This internationally recognised programme, with a total value of RM3.88 million, will benefit 500 final-year students and UMPSA alumni by enhancing their competitiveness in the global job market.

More than 200 attendees, including industry guests from 49 international, GLC, and local companies, collaborators and contributors to the university’s endowment, were present to explore potential partnerships in research, talent development, and university–community impact.

By: Mimi Rabita Abd Wahit, Centre for Corporate Communications
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press