KUCHING: The Sarawak government has agreed with the proposal for Fudan University in Shanghai to set its branch campus in the state.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he welcomed the idea of the Federation of Chinese Associations Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Division for a university in China to spread its wings to Sarawak.
“I agree if there is a campus from China (in Sarawak). We are eyeing Fudan, and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian is engaging with the university.
“Fudan University, as you know, is one of the top five universities in China and with the campus here in Sarawak, our students can further their study in Fudan,” he said during the Chinese New Year celebration and the Federation of Chinese Associations Kuching, Samarahan, Serian Divisions’ 45th anniversary dinner at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) last night (Feb 25).
Abang Johari said he would give his full support should there be an agreement between both governments, Malaysia and China on the establishment of the branch campus in Sarawak.
Earlier, Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations (SFCA) president Datuk Richard Wee requested the state government to pursue and persuade top rank universities in China to set up their branch campus in Sarawak.
He said setting up a branch campus in the state will positively elevate the standard of tertiary education.
“It will definitely be an excellent addition to the current two Australian universities, Curtin University Malaysia and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, from which all Sarawakians have benefitted immensely,” he said.
Wee added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously been reported to have invited Tsinghua University to set up a branch campus in Malaysia.
“As we all know, Xiamen University was the first Chinese university to establish an international branch campus in Malaysia in Sepang in 2016.
“We have been reliably informed that Shanghai’s Fudan University, a top five university in China, has been approached and contact has already been made as another possible choice,” he said.
He hoped the state government would consider looking at the federation’s suggestion on the matter.
