Megawati and UTAR Malaysia Rector Discuss Research Collaboration with BRIN
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s fifth president and Chair of the BRIN Advisory Board, Megawati Soekarnoputri, received a visit from the Rector of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Malaysia, Professor Dato’ Dr. Ewe Hong Tat, to discuss plans for research collaboration between UTAR and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
In opening the conversation with Megawati, the UTAR Rector stated that he and his delegation had just met with the BRIN research organisation to explore cooperation in the field of research.
In response to that statement, Megawati expressed enthusiasm and said she would ask the research organisations within BRIN to follow up. Megawati met the UTAR Rector in 2023 when she received an honorary doctorate from UTAR.
“As Chair of the BRIN Advisory Board, I warmly welcome the planned collaboration between UTAR and BRIN,” Megawati said in her statement in Jakarta on Monday.
In the meeting, the UTAR Rector was accompanied by the UTAR Vice Rector, Zuraidah Binti Abd Manaf, and the Director of the UTAR Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Bernard Saw Lip Huat. Meanwhile, Megawati was accompanied by the General Secretary of the PDIP Central Executive Board, Hasto Kristiyanto, PDIP Central Executive Board Chairman Rokhmin Dahuri, and Eriko Sotarduga.
Rokhmin Dahuri stated that UTAR is a leading private university in Malaysia focused on academic excellence and global research.
“This is an honorary visit by the UTAR Rector and delegation to Mrs Megawati’s residence. It also serves to explore collaboration between BRIN and UTAR. Even earlier, the UTAR Rector mentioned research on bananas, and Mrs Megawati explained that Indonesia has many types of bananas,” said Rokhmin.
He added that Megawati requested deeper discussions on the planned research collaboration.
Rokhmin explained that the one-and-a-half-hour meeting focused on plans for cooperation between UTAR and BRIN, as well as several universities in Indonesia.
Further, Rokhmin outlined that the planned collaboration includes joint research in the fields of: (1) Biodiversity, genetic mapping of flora (plants) and fauna (animals), and bioprospecting and extraction of natural products (bioactive compounds) for the functional food and pharmaceutical industries; (2) Development of local food; (3) Mitigation and adaptation to global climate change; (4) Wastewater treatment and management; and (5) Use of technology for sustainable energy and food.
“Mrs Megawati and the UTAR Rector encouraged student exchanges between UTAR and several universities in Indonesia. They invited Indonesia to participate more actively in the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology,” explained Rokhmin.
Rokhmin, who served as a minister during Megawati Soekarnoputri’s administration, then mentioned that Megawati received an honorary doctorate from UTAR in Selangor, Malaysia, on 2 October 2023. This was in recognition of her visionary leadership and contributions to social and political spheres.
“At that time, Mrs Megawati delivered a scientific oration titled ‘Social Transformation of the Indonesian Nation in the Perspective of Pancasila Ideology’,” clarified Rokhmin.