PUTRAJAYA, Nov 30 — Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah today decreed the name of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) will remain.
The ruler said that as UPM chancellor, His Royal Highness and the UPM board of trustees were not consulted regarding the university name change.
“I do not agree with the proposal,” said the Sultan during the 48th UPM convocation ceremony in Seri Kembangan today.
Sultan Sharafuddin in his speech said the UPM’s name should be maintained as the ruler launched the PUTRA brand, which means “Agriculture for the People”.
His Royal Highness said UPM name is in honour of the name of first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-haj.
“I would like to remind those who do not understand history to read and examine historical facts before making any statements, especially involving UPM,” he said.
On Thursday, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said a proposal to revert UPM to its original name, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, would be submitted to the Cabinet for discussion.
Meanwhile, Sultan Sharafuddin recommended UPM collaborate with other industry players in the agricultural sector to find ways to repopularise the agricultural sector in the country, especially among the youth.
The ruler said the negative views of society that label agriculture as a field with no future or a low-class field must be changed, and the community must be convinced agriculture has potential and a bright future.
“This effort must be implemented as agriculture remains an important sector that must be maintained,” the Sultan said.
— Bernama
