Xiamen University branch campus to boost Malaysia's education sector

The presence of Xiamen University in Malaysia is expected to boost the host country's image as a regional education hub.  

Xiamen University, listed as among the top 20 academic institutions in China, was founded by Malaysian rubber magnate Tan Kah Kee in 1921.

Today, a ground-breaking ceremony took place in Salak Tinggi to signify the start of the construction. Present at the ceremony were Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, the prime minister's special envoy to China, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, who is also the Malaysia-China Business Council chairman, president of Xiamen University Prof Zhu Chongshi and China's ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang.

Xiamen University Malaysia Campus (XMUMC) is estimated to cost RM1.3 billion. The campus will be built on a 60-hectare site with five academic buildings, six students' residences, activity centres, sports facilities and a cafeteria, is expected to be ready in September next year.

XMUMC is to see its first enrolment of 500 students after that and the number to grow to 5,000 in 2020, and eventually reach its maximum capacity of 10,000 students from China, Malaysia and other Asean countries.

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