Sarawak keen on Chinese university branch campus

KUCHING: Sarawak is putting forward a proposal to establish a branch campus of a Chinese university in the state.

In stating this, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the establishment of branch campus in Sarawak will further strengthen the diplomatic relationship between Malaysia-China and Sarawak-China.

“In order to make our diplomatic relationship even more solid, we can establish it through education.

“Now, for Sarawak we have a lot of branch universities from Australia and I suggest we establish a branch campus of a Chinese university in Sarawak to strengthen our relationship.

“Malaysia only has one branch campus which is the Xiamen University Malaysia Campus (Sepang, Selangor), and it was the first branch university allowed by the Chinese government to be established outside the country. After Xiamen, there is no other branch campus,” Dr Sim said.

He said this after officiating at the launching of 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and
China couplet unveiling ceremony at the Malaysia-China Friendship Park here on Wednesday.

He said the proposed branch campus could focus on studies in technology advancement.

“The strengths of China development nowadays is all the technologies, smart city and all those related to advancement that we need,” he said.

Meanwhile, on a related note, Dr Sim said since diplomatic ties were established between China and Malaysia 50 years ago, it has become very comprehensive in all sectors.

“And today, it is a very meaningful ceremony, as we have our own master calligrapher from Sarawak, Sim Poh Yaw, aged 96, who has produced the Chinese calligraphy couplet for the 50th anniversary of of the diplomatic relationship, to be displayed here, the only one Malaysia-China Friendship Park,” Dr Sim said.

He moving ahead over the next 50 years, the Malaysia-China and Sarawak-China relationship will continue to grow.

“And in order to strengthen it and to be more comprehensive, it will need to go beyond government to government, it has to be people to people because the next generation, younger generations will value our strengths from both Sarawak and China,” he said.