Firm’s continuous contribution to the fund will help students acquire knowledge and indirectly help the nation to produce high-performance young talents, says CEO

by AUFA MARDHIAH / Pic courtesy of Johor Port

JOHOR Port Bhd, a member of the MMC group, has donated RM2 million extra to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) for its Endowment Fund to support underprivileged UTM students who excel in academics.

The contribution was made following the memorandum of agreement between both parties that underlines Johor Port’s contribution of RM5 million over five years in 2013 — which later was extended to 2021 — with an additional contribution of RM3 million to the Endowment Fund. 

This year, Johor Port has agreed for an additional allocation of RM2 million for four years.

Johor Port CEO Md Derick Basir said the company’s continuous contribution to the fund will help students acquire knowledge and indirectly help the nation to produce high-performance young talents.

“As a high-performance organisation, we believe that high-performance talents are crucial in driving organisational success. 

“In this regard, we are also happy to play a role in empowering university students through our contributions to the UTM Endowment Fund,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Johor Port, through JP Skills Centre, will also collaborate with UTM for the world’s first Professional Master in Port Management, which is a contemporary course module designed to enhance port professionals’ fundamentals and operational knowledge locally and internationally.

The recently launched course modules are also a sharing of knowledge and expertise in Port Management as well as training in strengthening management and talent development in the port community.

As an integrated multi-purpose port facility in the southern region, Johor Port is responsible as a catalyst for the various commodities, manufacturing, and oil and gas industries, as well as contributing to the development of a knowledgeable community.

The donation cheque was handed over by Md Derick to UTM VC Prof Datuk Ts Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, at the UTM Royal Dinner, Persada Johor Baru.

The event was also witnessed by Johor Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah, who is also the UTM Chancellor and wife of the Johor Regent Che Puan Besar Khaleeda Bustamam, who is also UTM’s Pro Chancellor.

Also present were UTM Pro Chancellor Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor and Higher Education Ministry DG Prof Datuk Dr Husaini Omar.