FMM Perak visits UTAR to explore industry-academia collaborations

UTAR warmly welcomed the delegation from the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Perak to its Kampar Campus on 3 July 2025. The visit facilitated engaging discussions, fostering mutual understanding and laying a strong foundation for potential collaborations in academic, research and development initiatives.

The FMM delegation comprised Chairman of Nutri Action Sdn Bhd Mr Chua Kay Lin, Immediate Past Chairman of Sidney Industries Sdn Bhd Mr Tan Seow Heng, Vice Chairman of Asia Printed Circuit Sdn Bhd Mr Wong Khin Kong, Vice Chairman of Hasrat Meranti Sdn Bhd Mr Mok Tuck Meng, Vice Chairman of Everwin Plastic Sdn Bhd Mr Tony Cheam Swee Aik, Perak Committee Member of Yee Lee Edible Oils Sdn Bhd Mr Yap Sin Kheong, Perak Committee Member of Camfil Malaysia Sdn Bhd Mr Teng Kim Ming, Perak Committee Member of Sheng Foong Plastic Industries Sdn Bhd Ms Esther Koh and Mr Yeong Sai Key, FMM Branches Senior Manager and Mentor for Branches Mr Louis Gnanapragasam and FMM Head of Branch Ms Nicole Choe Pui Sze.

Present to welcome the delegation were UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations (SDAR) Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Office of International Affairs (OIA) Deputy Director Dr Chen, I-Chi, Faculty of Science (FSc) Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Dr Teh Lai Kuan, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) Head of Programme (MEng (Electronic Systems)) Ts Dr Lee Han Kee, and Centre for Corporate and Community Development Head Encik Mohd Faizul bin Ahmad, and OIA staff Ms Chin Sau Lai.

Expressing his gratitude, Prof Choong said, “On behalf of UTAR, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the FMM for its trust and continued collaboration over the years. Since the signing of our first MoU in 2009 and its subsequent renewal, UTAR and FMM have worked together in many meaningful ways. These include industrial training placements, joint forums, student engagement activities and knowledge-sharing sessions. This collaboration has enriched the learning experience of our academic community and contributed to strengthening the local industrial and management ecosystem. At UTAR, we place strong emphasis on building impactful partnerships through our industry-academia collaboration initiatives. These efforts are guided by four key focus areas, namely academic and research collaborations; human capital and talent development; curriculum development; and lifelong learning with upskilling opportunities.”

Mr Chua said, “Through this collaboration, we have an opportunity to further upskill our students by enabling them to visit factories and gain practical, hands-on training that prepares them for the future. I sincerely hope our discussions today will continue to be fruitful as we work together to nurture and shape the next generation of talent.”

The meeting continued with a discussion session that highlighted the mutual interests of both parties and identified potential areas for collaboration, marking a positive step in research cooperation between UTAR and FMM. The visit also included a campus tour of Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and the FEGT laboratories, followed by visits to UTAR Hospital and the Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) Centre.

About FMM:

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) is Malaysia’s premier economic organisation. Since its establishment in 1968, the FMM has consistently supported Malaysian manufacturers in advancing the nation’s growth and modernisation. Today, as the largest private sector economic organisation in Malaysia representing over 4,000 manufacturing and industrial service companies of various sizes, the FMM is the officially recognised voice of the industry. The FMM Perak branch, also formed in 1968, aims to provide closer services to members and support the development of local industries.