Sultan Selangor mahu UiTM terus jadi pintu mobiliti sosial Melayu, Bumiputera

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor wishes Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) to continue serving as a social mobility gateway for Malay and Bumiputera youth, especially those from low-income and rural backgrounds, to build a better future through education. The Sultan does not wish for the alumni elites created by a growing and successful UiTM to become isolated or further detached from high education opportunities.

"Children of farmers, fishermen, drivers, factory workers or poor rural families must always be given confidence that if they possess the ability and dedication to achieve academic heights, UiTM will provide a path for them to change their life trajectory," the Sultan stated at the 2026 King's Address to UiTM 2026, held at the Seri Budiman Concert Hall.

Accompanying the Sultan were Selangor's Tengku Permaisuri, Norashikin, and the Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir. The Sultan noted that UiTM's establishment opened educational opportunities previously inaccessible to many youth, evolving from just 219 students and 11 faculty members in 1965 to over 7,000 students and approximately 1,000 faculty members today.

Over the decade, UiTM also launched around 60 courses and expanded branch campuses across several states. "Today, UiTM is among the largest higher education institutions in the country, producing more than 40,000 graduates annually, with over a million alumni in total," the Sultan said. With such a vast figure, the Sultan hopes the alumni could contribute at least RM10 monthly or RM100 annually to UiTM as a token of gratitude and appreciation for the institution's support throughout their academic journey.

"I believe a RM10 monthly contribution will not burden alumni; it can be a small sacrifice for the institution's continuity and progress. The funds potentially surpassing RM100 million annually could be used for various aspects of UiTM development and to assist new and existing students facing poverty and financial hardships in continuing their education.

"This is where the 'UiTM Dihatiku' slogan often chanted by students, faculty, and alumni can be proven and remembered that behind every figure and statistic, there are Malay and Bumiputera children from disadvantaged families who have transformed their lives through education and the chance to pursue knowledge at UiTM. "We can see today's UiTM graduates in every industry and sector, becoming accountants, engineers, doctors, lawyers, architects, academics, entrepreneurs, civil servants, arts and media advocates, and leaders in various fields.

"Among them, some have run large organizations, built businesses, created job opportunities, and directly contribute to national development." The Sultan concluded, emphasizing that UiTM's true success is measured not just by the number of students, graduates, or alumni, but by how much the institution has transformed the lives of the nation's youth and contributed to the country's advancement.