By Saiful Bahri Kamaruddin
Pix Izwan Azman

BANGI , 19 Dec 2013 – The National University of  Malaysia ( UKM ) and Cheras Education Foundation ( YPC ) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU ) for cooperation in various fields.

The MoU was signed UKM vice-chancellor Prof Tan Sri Dato ‘Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin and YPC chairman Datuk Seri Syed Ali Alhabshee .

Second Finance Minister and UKM Mentor Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah witnessed the brief ceremony along with Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Ir Dato’ Othman A. Karim and YPC board member Datuk Syed Abdullah Alhabshee .

The MoU was expected to pave the way to create smart partnerships, organised and strategic alliance between YPC and UKM, and in particular to carry out the success of the transformation agenda in enhancing human capital .

In her opening remarks , Prof Sharifah Hapsah expressed hope that through the MoU, UKM and YPC will hold a convention for leadership among undergraduates and the marketability of graduates.

She said the two sides intend to perform community service off campus, especially among the lower-income communities .

UKM and YPC will also conduct career planning and entrepreneurship courses , while religious and welfare programmes will also be given attention.

They are also expected to create a plan to promote sports and recreational arts, arts and culture , and research and innovation .

In his speech, Datuk Seri Syed Ali said this is the first time YPC will undertake  programmes for university undergraduates .

According to him,  UKM was selected for such a purpose because it is the most distinguished university in the country.

Before this , YPC  had collaborated with UKM for several years in various fields such as welfare and school adoption schemes.

This time , he added , YPC will help devise a scheme to “adopt” undergraduates  from low-income families .

For that reason , he added , it made sense for YPC and UKM to establish a close and formal relationship.

Datuk Seri Syed Ali promised to use a government’s contribution of RM 500,000 to YPC for this purpose, in addition to a RM 500,000 donation from the Ministry of Finance announced by Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni.