UMP-MIROS collaboration on road safety technology

Kuala Lumpur, 11 August 2020 - The strategic cooperation opportunity between Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) will benefit both parties in sharing technology, human capital, research and expertise in road safety.

MIROS is an agency under the Ministry of Transport Malaysia which serves as a one-stop centre for the generation, production and dissemination of knowledge and road safety information.

The ceremony saw the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rosli Hainin and Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA), Professor Dr. Mahadzir Ishak@Muhammad signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Director General of MIROS, Ir. Dr. Khairil Anuar Abu Kassim and Director of Vehicle Safety and Biomechanics Research Centre, Zulhaidi Mohd Jawi@Said.

This ceremony was witnessed by the Chairman of MIROS, Datuk Suret Singh.

According to Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rosli, this collaboration can provide benefits, especially in teaching and research on road safety.

“As a technical university on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, UMP is ready to help in addressing road safety problems in line with the increase of roads on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

“This collaboration can also provide opportunities for students and staff as well as produce more researchers related to road safety.

“I hope the joint effort in the development of the UMP-MIROS laboratory centralised under FTKMA can be utilised by both parties,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Director General of MIROS, Ir. Dr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim described this collaboration as the best synergy in bridging the research and development gap in the field of road safety between the public and private sectors.

“This collaboration is also through research projects to address road safety issues, especially those involving the safety of motorcyclists and private vehicles in Malaysia as well as working together to reduce road fatalities.

“Recently, MIROS is moving towards the development of UMP-MIROS Laboratory in UMP for learning and teaching and research at UMP.

“We are assertive that UMP can be a MIROS hub on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.

Meanwhile, Professor Dr. Mahadzir Ishak@Muhammad said, FTKMA and MIROS have started working together in grant and visit programmes for the past four years.

“Collaboration in the development of laboratory that emphasises the issue of vehicle safety is anticipated to benefit students and researchers to gain experience,” he said.

Apart from UMP, MIROS also forged a memorandum of understanding with 12 road safety strategic partners including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA), Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), 3M Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., IMU Education Sdn. Bhd., Incision Malaysia, DriveMark Sdn. Bhd., Indonesia Road Safety Partnership, Human Resources Development Agency Ministry of Transportation, TRISAKTI Institute of Transportation and Logistics, and Institute of Road Traffic Education, India.

By: Nor Salwana Mohd. Idris, Public Relations Unit, Office of The Vice-Chancellor

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of  Chemical and Process Engineering Technology