Why the New Name Matters
UPM Sarawak is more than just a new name. It represents:
- Commitment to local priorities
- Empowerment for Sarawak students
- Partnership with communities
- Focus on real solutions for the state
“It’s a promise to serve Sarawak on Sarawak’s own terms.”
More Than Just a Name Change
On June 30, 2025, our campus received its new name from the Chancellor, His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor. We are now officially Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak – or simply, UPM Sarawak.
Some might see this as just another administrative update, a new signboard at the gate. But for me – as someone who has spent years teaching, researching, and working with local communities here – it is much more.
This change says clearly: we are not just a remote branch of UPM in Peninsular Malaysia. We are a campus for Sarawak, in Sarawak, of Sarawak. It is a promise that we are here to serve Sarawak on its own terms.
Rooted in Agriculture: Honouring Tradition, Driving Innovation
Agriculture is at the heart of Sarawak’s economy and culture. I’ve met pepper farmers in the highlands, oil palm smallholders along the coast, rice growers in remote valleys, and families harvesting sago along our rivers.
This is not just business – it is a way of life. But it also comes with challenges. Many farmers still use traditional methods without enough access to technology or scientific advice. Climate patterns are changing. Prices are unstable.
As an academic at UPM Sarawak, I see our role as building a bridge between science and tradition. We should work collaboratively with local farmers, respect indigenous knowledge, and develop practical methods tailored to Sarawak’s diverse soils, climates, and communities.
Food Security: A Daily Reality, Not Just Policy
Food security isn’t some abstract policy term. It’s about whether families across Sarawak can put affordable, nutritious food on the table.
Climate change has made this harder – with floods, droughts, and supply chain disruptions. Dependence on imported food leaves us vulnerable. It is often our most remote communities that suffer the most from shortages and high prices.
I want UPM Sarawak to lead in building resilient, locally appropriate food systems. That means training the next generation of agricultural officers, scientists, and community leaders. It means developing sustainable, productive farming that feeds Sarawak first.
Food security is personal. It is a promise we owe every Sarawakian family – from Kuching to Kapit to Bintulu.
Powering the Future: Renewable Energy for Sarawak
Renewable energy is not only an environmental necessity – it is a cornerstone of Sarawak’s sustainable future.
We already generate significant hydropower, but there is enormous untapped potential in biomass, biogas, and solar energy.
Clean, reliable energy can transform rural communities. It powers farms, food processors, schools, clinics, and local industries. It reduces costs for families and supports economic growth while protecting our environment.
UPM Sarawak can and should lead research in these areas and train the skilled workforce to turn ideas into reality.
Connecting the Pillars: Building a Sustainable, Inclusive Sarawak
These three pillars – agriculture, food security, renewable energy – are not separate silos. They are deeply connected.
Sustainable agriculture feeds people and protects our land. Food security depends on reliable, affordable energy. Renewable energy makes farming and food processing more efficient and sustainable.
Our mission at UPM Sarawak is to see these connections clearly – and act on them in everything we teach and research.
A Personal Commitment to Sarawak
Of course, a new name alone changes nothing. It is a signal, not a solution.
The real work begins now. We, as faculty and staff, must commit to research and teaching that truly serve Sarawak.
University leadership must invest in local priorities and support our students with the resources they deserve. We need to respect and listen to the communities we work with – not as passive recipients, but as partners.
I am proud to be part of UPM Sarawak. Proud of our students who bring their own knowledge and dreams from every corner of this beautiful state. Proud of our researchers who work in fields, labs, forests, and villages to find real solutions.
This new name is more than a ceremony. For me, it is a personal promise – a commitment that we will work together to grow knowledge rooted in our land, feed our people, and power a sustainable, inclusive future for Sarawak.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at ab_fauziah@upm.edu.my.
