By Asmahanim Amir
Pix Ikhwan Hashim

BANGI, 9 September 2015 – Several UKM Accounting alumni have been holding the highest positions in the Accountant General’s Department of Malaysia (JANM) and this proved  that UKM Accounting graduates are in high demand.

Accountant General of Malaysia who is also UKM accounting alumni, Dato’ Che Pee Samsudin said the department has several UKM accounting alumni who are holding the senior positions including  Deputy Accountant General (Operations) and Deputy Accountant general (Corporate).

“Apart from that, the majority of  division directors at JANM are also UKM graduates. I believe others statutory departments also have many graduates from UKM who hold senior positions. It shows the outstanding achievement of UKM,” he said when speaking at the UKM Accounting Alumni Hi-Tea gathering here on August 22, 2015.

Dato’ Che Pee  said JANM has an Accounting Development Centre responsible for organising professional courses, work ethics and promoting research with university lecturers.

“So, with the availability of the Accounting Development Centre, we hope all accountants working at JANM will hone their skills through the professional courses, so they can move ahead,” he said.

He hoped that accounting programme at universities can take into account the profesional standards, so when accounting graduates seek jobs later they will understand what is expected of them.

He explained that by 2020, Malaysia will need 60,000 accountants and now we have almost 30,000 accountants.

“We need four years to achieve the target. This is a role that should be played in an institution of higher learning that has the accountancy courses.

“I hope Universities can meet the market needs right now. That’s why every subject taught in universities has to follow standards set by current requirements and market needs,” he explained.

He said he had already discussed with the President of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), so that MIA works closely with the Universities in order for them  to provide the explicit requirements.

“With this collaboration, universities will know whether the market requirements of accountants out there can be met and included in the syllabus of teaching and learning.

“This is because we want the gap between the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and others be reduced and our graduates can be qualified as a Professional Accountant,” he said.

Earlier, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Nor Ghani Md Nor said support from the  alumni are very important in helping to achieve the UKM aspirations.

“ UKM aspires to continue moving forward to fulfil the wishes of the people of this country to create a better future for the nation.

“So, I hope  that the alumni can help UKM to contribute ideas to help the University to strive for excellence. Thus, we will be proud to be associated with UKM,” he said.

Prof Nor Ghani added that the alumni is not only an intellectual university asset, but they are people who have important roles in the sustainable development of the University as well as the nation.

This if the fourth UKM Accounting Alumni gathering, the first being in 1997 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).