Selangor Sultan lauds UPM for role in agriculture research

SERDANG: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah praised University Putra Malaysia (UPM) for its success in the field of agriculture.
He stressed that the agriculture sector played an important role in the nation's economic growth and development.
In his speech during UPM's 38th convocation ceremony here today, he said the interests and development of the agricultural sector has been growing rapidly in line with the national development agenda.
Also present at the event was Selangor Mentri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali and UPM's pro-chancellors Tan Sri Dr Nayan Ariffin, Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek and Tan Sri Rozali Ismail.
The sultan, who is also UPM's chancellor, lauded the university's move in establishing two research institutes - the Food Security Institute and Plantation Research Institute, as these sectors are among the nation's key areas of economic growth.
"These institutes will play a big part in producing high impact research on the country's food security and plantation sector," he said.
The sultan also hoped that the government would use higher learning institutions as an example and a source of reference in improving the country's huge potential in many aspects.
At the four-day convocation ceremony which commenced today and ends on Nov 4, a total of 6,116 graduates of various courses comprising PhD (391), Masters Degree (2,123), Bachelors Degree (3,380) and Diploma (222), will receive their scrolls from the chancellor and three pro-chancellors in eight sessions.
In addition, UPM has awarded the Chancellors Gold Medal prize to Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Rashadan Baba and the Putra AgriBio Medal to Bachelor of Science Agriculture graduate Anna Arina Ab Halim.
Meanwhile, Masara Ahmad Mokhtar from Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Sciences) and Sugentiran Mane from Bachelor of Science Computer (Software Engineering) received the Royal Education Gold Medals in the bumiputra and non-bumiputra categories respectively.
Among these graduates are national athletes Mohd Razie Abd Rahim, Norbaini Hashim, Rabiatul Adawiyah Mohamed (Hockey), Chai Fong Ying, Chai Fong Wei (Wushu), Sharon Koh Suet Len (Bowling), Cheng Chu Sian (Archery) and L Kunasilan (Karate).
Meanwhile, the Sultan said all the degrees and diplomas obtained from UPM is not the ultimate goal of study but it is rather a significant medium for the graduates to contribute back to the community and the nation.
"Each individual's expertise should be incorporated in an integrated manner to boost the country's excellence in the global arena," he added