By Saiful Bahri Kamaruddin
Pix Ikhwan Hashim

BANGI, June 17, 2016 – The National University of Malaysia (UKM) is prepared  to lead efforts to turn Bangi into a Knowledge City, said deputy vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Ir Dr Riza Atiq Abdullah O.K. Rahmat.

He said UKM is ready to become a hub for exploration and incubation of  knowledge in this area, thus fostering cooperation among various institutions of higher learning, scientists, statutory bodies, as well as religious institutions such as mosques and suraus.

“The preparation is sure to involve various discourses on science, religion, culture and current issues as well as the production of publications as a reference for future generations, he said when officiating the 2016 Exploration of Electrical and Electronics at the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems (JKEES) here on 26 May.

Apart from UKM, among the other universities in the Bangi area are Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), and the Multimedia University (MMU).

He said as a planned city built in 1970, Bandar Baru Bangi, or Bangi Township is  equipped with residential, business, recreation and industrial zones.

In addition the Bandar Baru Bangi Industrial Zone has many plants belonging to multinationals because of the low land premium and equipped with sophisticated infrastructure.

On the 2016 Exploration of Electrical and Electronics, or E3@UKM 2016, he  described it as one of the important programmes to enhance the reputation and profile of JKEES to the local community and beyond.

E3@UKM 2016 is a competition at the department for students to present their  posters on research conducted during two semesters, to the general public.

The results of their work were assessed by a panel of distinguished academics in their respective fields, while also providing representatives of the private sector  a good opportunity to study the students’ results.

“I understand there are some findings that can be commercialized,” he said.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor said this proved the success of UKM’s policy of From Lab to Community.

Some 30 third-year students took part in the competition.