USM, PULAU PINANG, 11 August 2016 - His Royal Highness Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Ibni Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, the Raja Muda of Perlis has extended an invitation to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to offer study programmes and share its expertise in Perlis to benefit the people there.

The Raja Muda of Perlis stated this in his address at the Special Appreciation Ceremony for Congratulatory Advertisement Sponsors to mark the 73rd birthday of his father, HRH the Tuanku Raja of Perlis, here today.

He said that USM being an APEX university with a long-established experience and expertise in Science and Technology as well as other fields, is seen to be most suitable to spearhead community-based programmes to transfer knowledge of Science and Technology to the society.

“USM as a Global University has a strong collaborative network with various reputable institutions throughout the world, and a proven track record of providing training as well as initiating and driving social programmes in other countries.

"USM has had a long history and close relationship with the state of Perlis when HRH Tuanku Raja Perlis became the Chancellor of USM since its inception until now, and its history has been recorded in the annals of higher education," said the Raja Muda further.

The Raja Muda of Perlis has offered suggestions for USM to initiate programmes in Perlis, either on its own or together with UniMAP and other authorities such as the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) under the IMT-GT initiative and the USM-NCIA Project in Lembah Chuping known as "NCIA Growth Nodes - Renewable Energy and Logistics", and to provide technical and managerial capacity in creating job opportunities to fulfil the need of the highly-sought TVET technical and vocational expertise.

"USM can collaborate with UniMAP and NCIA in preparing the blueprint and its long-term implementation. Even UUM could also be invited to fulfil the agenda of developing together and providing training opportunities for the public sector and the promotion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in schools and polytechnics in Perlis," he said further.

Also at the ceremony, the Raja Muda Perlis launched two books.

The first book entitled 'Organisational Transformation Concepts and Implementation' was authored by the Director of Innovation and Productivity in Public Administration (PIPPA), Dr. Musa Ali and published by Penerbit USM with London-based Educational Competencies Consortium UK, and is expected to be available in the market in time for the Frankfurt Book Fest in Germany this September.

The other book was 'Hubungan Politik dan Sosio Budaya China-Dunia Melayu Hingga Kurun ke-15 Masihi' (Political and Socio-Cultural Relations between China-Malay World until the 15th Century) also published by Penerbit USM, based on the research findings of Dr. Nazarudin Zainun, a senior lecturer from the School of Humanities and Dr. Nasha Rodziad Khan who recently obtained a Doctorate with an expertise in Sanskrit and Archaeology from the University of Peshawar, Pakistan and is currently attached to the USM Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR).

Also present was Her Royal Highness Tuanku Hajjah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil, the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis.

Others who were present include the Perlis State Secretary, Tuan Ahmad Zamri bin Khairuddin and wife, Puan Noryahwati Mohamad Noh; the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Dato' Professor Dr. Zul Azhar Zahid Jamal; Assistant Chief Editor, Kumpulan Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad, Datuk Hassan Mohd. Noor; wife of USM Vice-Chancellor, Datin Noraizan Jamaludin; representatives of the Congratulatory Advertisement Sponsors, USM Management Committee members and USM Heads of Departments.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Mohamad Abdullah / Photos: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa