KELANTAN’S Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra, who is also Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) pro-chancellor, has suggested UMK to cooperate with the state government and private sector to develop the state.

Tengku Muhammad Faiz said UMK possesses the expertise while the government has the resources and the private sector can provide investment.

“If these three parties are able to work as a team, then this can bring significant benefits to the well-being of the people,” he said.

“I suggest all parties share their devotion to Kelantan through UMK. For example the Kelantan diaspora can use the waqaf (endowment) to contribute through the development of the university infrastructure,” he said during UMK’s 13th convocation ceremony in Bachok today, which was also attended by Kelantan Menteri Besar Mohd Nassuruddin Daud.

He said the existing resources needed to be optimised and this included developing an area in UMK Bachok as a business hub.

The crown prince said this would not only contribute to the university’s income but would help highlight its involvement as an entrepreneurial university.

“This will indirectly be a catalyst for the socio-economic development of the state,” he said.

Meanwhile, UMK vice-chancellor Razli Che Razak said the university has recorded a graduate employability rate of 92.5% until February 2023, surpassing the target of 91% set this year.

He said the graduate entrepreneur data was at 10.9%, surpassing the set of 10%.

“This shows UMK is on track in achieving its mission as Asean’s leading entrepreneurial university in 2026 and Asia in 2030,” he said.

A total of 2,839 students received their scrolls – 25 for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master’s degree (75) and Bachelor’s degree (2,739). – Bernama, November 4, 2023.