Megawati Receives UTAR Malaysia Rector, Discusses Research Collaboration and Student Exchange
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia’s fifth president and PDI-P general chair, Megawati Soekarnoputri, received a visit from the rector of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Malaysia, Professor Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat, at her residence in Menteng, Jakarta, on Monday (27/4/2026).
In the meeting, Megawati, who is also the chair of the advisory board of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and the UTAR representatives discussed plans for research collaboration, while also promoting student exchanges between higher education institutions in Indonesia and Malaysia.
“As the chair of the BRIN advisory board, I welcome the cooperation plans between UTAR and BRIN,” Megawati stated in her official remarks on Monday (27/4/2026).
PDI-P DPP chair Rokhmin Dahuri said that the meeting between Megawati and the UTAR rector and his team lasted approximately 1.5 hours.
The discussions in the meeting focused on plans for research collaboration in the fields of biodiversity, genetic mapping of flora and fauna, bioprospecting, and extraction of natural products for the functional food and pharmaceutical industries.
This cooperation also encompasses the development of local food, mitigation and adaptation to global climate change, wastewater management, and the utilisation of technology for sustainable energy and food.
Rokhmin added that Megawati and the UTAR side also encouraged student exchanges between UTAR and several universities in Indonesia.
“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,” he said.
In the meeting, the UTAR rector was accompanied by UTAR’s deputy rector, Zuraidah Binti Abd Manaf, and the director of UTAR’s Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Bernard Saw Lip Huat.
Megawati previously received an honorary doctorate from UTAR in Selangor, Malaysia, on 2 October 2023.
The award was given in recognition of her leadership and contributions in the fields of social and political affairs.
At that time, Megawati also delivered a scientific oration titled “Social Transformation of the Indonesian Nation from the Perspective of Pancasila Ideology”.