By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 10: A newly established research chair named after Dr Wong Soon Kai has been proposed for in University Technology Sarawak (UTS) in an effort to enhance the university’s research and development (R&D).
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Sarawak government will sponsor RM2 million under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research (MESTR) for the ‘Dr Wong Soon Kai Chair in Medical Device Technology’, provided that Wong’s family give the consent.
“When the chair is established, of course with the family’s permission, it will allow students and lecturers to do research, especially on medicine.
“As you know, the late Dr Wong Soon Kai was a renowned surgeon in Sibu, the first surgeon not only in Sibu, but also in the whole country.
“He was the pioneer in the field, so we want to honour his contribution to the State and we name this chair after him,” he said.
Abang Johari said the chair that will be focusing much on technology research, along with newly introduced scholarship and bursary schemes, are initiatives that are in line with Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 whereby among important components is emphasis on talent development and innovation.
Universities are where new ideas bloom, he said, adding that research can strengthen the production of new products that are competitive and at the same time relevant to the new era using technology as a basis.
“You cannot avoid not using technology these days,” he said during the launching of UTS at the UTS campus here today.
From today, UTS has been rebranded into a full-fledged university from the previous University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS).
Founded in 2013, UTS is the only university which is wholly owned by the Sarawak government.
Located in the heart of Borneo, UTS offers a broad range of professional and industry-linked academic programmes that are relevant to the unique requirements of Sarawak in particular and Malaysia in general.
Among those present during the launching ceremony were Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) director-general Prof Datuk Dr Husaini Omar, Assistant Minister for Education, Science and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee, and UTS vice-chancellow Professor Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamed. — DayakDaily
