Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has introduced a new initiative urging Universiti Malaya (UM) alumni, particularly cabinet ministers, to contribute to the Universiti Malaya Endowment Fund (UMEF).
According to The Sun, This fund aims to assist students in need and reduce the financial strain on the government in maintaining the university’s academic standards.
Speaking at the Universiti Malaya Alumni Dinner, Anwar proposed that cabinet ministers who graduated from UM contribute RM10,000 each to the fund.
“I suggest we begin with cabinet ministers who are UM alumni, making it mandatory for each of them to contribute RM10,000,” he reportedly said in his speech during the Universiti Malaya (UM) Alumni dinner held at the Dewan Tunku Canselor.
Anwar, who serves as the Patron of the UM Alumni Association, emphasized the importance of collective contributions in reaching the UMEF’s RM500 million target.
“I will not shirk my responsibility as part of the administration,” Anwar said, acknowledging the financial challenges inherited by the previous government, including a national debt that once reached RM1.5 trillion.
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Endowment fund aims to raise RM1 billion
However, he reiterated that the proposal does not signal a withdrawal of government support for UM.
UM Vice-Chancellor Datuk Seri Prof Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman also revealed that the endowment fund aims to raise RM1 billion, with half expected to come from alumni, corporate partners, and industry players, while the government is expected to match the remaining amount.
To date, we’ve raised RM220 million from various sources. We appeal for continuous support from all sectors as an investment in the nation’s future excellence,” he said.
The dinner, the first UM Alumni gathering in a decade, brought together over 2,000 alumni from UM’s vast network of 237,748 graduates.
The initiative is seen as a significant step in strengthening the university’s resources and supporting students for years to come.
