By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, July 1: Groundwork is well underway for Fudan University, one of China’s premier institutions, to establish its Southeast Asian campus in Miri at the Old Miri City Council building, complete with an AI-powered clinic developed under the Kenyalang Smart City (KSC) initiative — a transformative urban development project by Imasa Dinasti Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the TAK Group of Companies.
This was unveiled by Miri City Council (MCC) Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang at the Borneo Business Roundtable 2025 held recently in Brunei, where over 30 high-level business delegates from Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei Darussalam, and Kalimantan, Indonesia gathered under the theme “Regional Trade Priorities, Shared Ambitions: Charting a Collaborative Agenda for Borneo”.
In a media release today, Yii outlined a bold vision for Miri’s transformation into a regional innovation and education hub, with the KSC initiative serving as the cornerstone of this future.
Central to this plan is the collaboration with Fudan University, particularly its internationally recognised medical school — one of only two Chinese medical programmes accredited by Malaysian authorities.
“Discussions and groundwork are already progressing. Fudan’s presence in Miri will be anchored at the Old Miri City Council building, which will be revitalised into a training centre, research hub and an AI-powered clinic.
“The facility will combine traditional Chinese medicine with Western clinical practices, opening doors for medical tourism and boosting the local healthcare ecosystem,” he said during a session titled “Connected Borneo: Advancing Trade, Talent, and Transformation”.
Yii also revealed that a standout feature near the Fudan campus will be the world’s first Biodiversity Museum, which will showcase Sarawak’s natural wealth and integrate traditional ecological knowledge with modern science, particularly in the fields of medicine and biotechnology.
The Fudan campus in Miri will be part of the broader Kenyalang Smart City blueprint, which aligns with Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) by focusing on sustainability, digital innovation, and inclusive economic development.
Imasa Dinasti Sdn Bhd, the master developer of KSC, was among the key participants at the roundtable, reinforcing its leadership in shaping Borneo’s smart and sustainable urban future.
The KSC project integrates smart technologies, renewable energy, education, and cultural identity to create a future-ready urban ecosystem.
Key components include residential ecosystem under Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home programme (S-MM2H) which offers premium homes for international residents; a hydrogen-powered public transport terminal supporting Sarawak’s Green Energy goals; incubators and digital spaces for entrepreneurs in tech, education, and healthcare; as well as civic and cultural infrastructure such as the Kenyalang Convention and Exhibition Centre, Performing Arts Centre, and a Cultural Heritage Museum.
In line with enhancing regional integration, Yii informed that the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) is collaborating with Brunei to implement the Sarawak Pass, a digital border facilitation tool to ease cross-border travel via Sungai Tujoh. The initiative is expected to reduce congestion and enhance both economic and social linkages between Miri and Brunei.
The roundtable featured regional heavyweights including ASEAN-BAC member and president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam Abdul Saman Ahmad, APEC Business Advisory Council Brunei Chair and Standard Chartered Bank CEO Pengiran Aki Ismasufian, and Invest Sabah Berhad CEO Dr Firdausi Suffian.
Their presence highlighted strong support for Miri’s smart city ambitions and the importance of cross-border collaboration in Borneo’s sustainable growth.
The event was hosted by ASEAN-BAC Brunei and ABAC Brunei in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economy. — DayakDaily
