Megawati Meets UTAR Malaysia Rector, Discusses Collaboration Plans with BRIN
Indonesia’s fifth President, Megawati Soekarnoputri, held a meeting with the Rector of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Malaysia, Professor Dato’ Dr. Ewe Hong Tat. The meeting discussed plans for collaboration between UTAR and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
This was conveyed by the UTAR Rector during his meeting with the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia, who is also the Chair of BRIN’s Supervisory Board, Megawati, at her residence in Menteng, Jakarta, on Monday (27/4/2026). The UTAR Rector stated that he and his delegation had just met with BRIN’s research organisation to explore cooperation in the field of research.
In response, Megawati expressed enthusiasm and said she would ask the research organisations under BRIN to follow up.
“As Chair of BRIN’s Supervisory Board, I welcome the planned collaboration between UTAR and BRIN,” Megawati said in her official statement on Monday (27/4/2026).
Professor Dato’ Dr. Ewe Hong Tat was accompanied by UTAR’s Deputy Rector Zuraidah Binti Abd Manaf and Director of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research UTAR Bernard Saw Lip Huat during the visit to Megawati’s residence. Megawati was accompanied by PDIP DPP General Secretary Hasto Kristiyanto, PDIP DPP 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. His side expressed honour over the visit.
“This is an honorary visit by the UTAR Rector and delegation to Ibu Megawati’s residence. It also serves to explore collaboration between BRIN and UTAR. In fact, the UTAR Rector mentioned research on bananas earlier, and Ibu Megawati explained that Indonesia has many types of bananas,” said Rokhmin.
He added that Megawati requested deeper discussions on the research collaboration plans. Rokhmin noted that the one-and-a-half-hour meeting focused on plans for collaboration between UTAR and BRIN, as well as several universities in Indonesia.
Furthermore, Rokhmin outlined that the collaboration plans include research partnerships 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 foods; (3) mitigation and adaptation to global climate change; (4) wastewater treatment and management; and (5) use of technology for sustainable energy and food.
“Ibu 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 mentioned that Megawati had received an honorary doctorate from UTAR in Selangor, Malaysia, on 2 October 2023. This was seen as recognition of her visionary leadership and contributions in socio-political spheres.
“At that time, Ibu Megawati delivered a scientific oration titled ‘Social Transformation of the Indonesian Nation from the Perspective of Pancasila Ideology’,” he added.