Rahman Dahlan Urges Sabah and Federal Governments to Strengthen Collaboration in Developing UMS

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), 26 September 2025 – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Datuk Seri Panglima Abdul Rahman Dahlan, has underscored the urgent need for the Sabah State Government to work hand in hand with the Federal Government in strengthening the sustainability of the institution, particularly as public universities nationwide grapple with intensifying financial constraints.

He noted that more than 60 percent of UMS students are Sabahans, warning that any delay in addressing financial challenges would have a direct impact on the state’s human capital development.

“I understand that public universities fall under the responsibility of the Federal Government. However, we cannot remain passive when financial pressures are mounting. The State Government must step forward, at the very least by creating new avenues for income generation,” he said during the Karisma Pemikir Madani Leadership Programme for University Executives in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday.

Rahman proposed that UMS be granted the mandate to operate low-risk commercial ventures, such as gas distribution, which already has established suppliers and markets. This, he argued, could secure a sustainable revenue stream without burdening the government.

He further recommended that a small fraction of the Sabah State Government’s mega projects, valued between RM30 and RM40 billion, be channelled through university-owned subsidiaries, thereby reducing UMS’s reliance on annual operating grants.

To strengthen competitiveness, Rahman also highlighted the importance of UMS expanding its academic offerings through micro-credentials and online learning. This approach, he said, would not only enhance accessibility and flexibility for students but also help reduce the need for costly physical infrastructure.

At the same time, he urged that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from major companies in Sabah be managed more strategically, with a portion allocated to public universities such as UMS to support daily operations and research activities.

“We are not asking the State Government to take over the Federal Government’s responsibilities, but we hope to see a spirit of shared responsibility. UMS is the university that educates Sabah’s youth. If UMS suffers, they will bear the consequences.

“UMS is a strategic asset for Sabah that must be safeguarded collectively for the advancement of knowledge, the welfare of students, and the future of higher education in Borneo,” he stressed.