{
  "id": 3999412,
  "title": "Poor Bumiputeras mustn’t be left behind at UiTM, says sultan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/poor-bumiputeras-mustnt-be-left-behind-at-uitm-says-sultan-3999412",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T16:06:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/29/poor-bumiputeras-mustn-t-be-left-behind-at-uitm-says-sultan"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has called on UiTM alumni to contribute towards a fund that will help future students, particularly those from low-income families and rural areas. Addressing UiTM alumni in a royal address, the sultan emphasized that UiTM must remain a gateway to social mobility for young Malays and Bumiputeras from disadvantaged backgrounds.\n\nSultan Sharafuddin stressed that as the university has expanded and grown, it is crucial that the target group for whom the institution was originally established is not left behind in terms of higher education opportunities. He highlighted that children of farmers, fishermen, drivers, factory workers, and poor rural families should be assured that if they possess the ability and determination to pursue knowledge, UiTM will provide the pathway to transform their future.\n\nThe sultan underscored that UiTM has become one of the largest higher learning institutions in the country, graduating over 40,000 students annually, and boasting an alumni network exceeding one million people. He proposed a system where each UiTM alumnus contributes at least RM10 per month, or RM100 per year, to the university. The sultan firmly believed that such a monthly contribution would not be burdensome for any alumnus and would serve as a sacrifice to ensure the continuity and progress of UiTM.\n\nThe proposed fund, which could potentially generate up to RM100 million annually, would be utilized for UiTM's development and to assist both new and existing students who are encountering financial difficulties.",
  "summary": "Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah says UiTM was founded to provide social mobility for young Malays and Bumiputeras from low-income and rural families.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : UiTM Must Remain Accessible To Underprivileged Bumiputera Students - Sultan Sharafuddin",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/general-uitm-must-remain-accessible-to-underprivileged-bumiputera",
        "published": "2026-08-28T13:30:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Poor Bumiputeras mustn’t be left behind at UiTM, says sultan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/poor-bumiputeras-mustnt-be-left-behind-at-uitm-says-sultan",
        "published": "2026-08-28T16:06:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Govt to continue upholding UiTM's role in Bumiputera development – Zambry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/govt-to-continue-upholding-uitms-role-in-bumiputera-development-zambry",
        "published": "2026-08-28T16:41:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}