UiTM campuses to get autonomy status - PM

"The autonomous status willl allow the transfer of power or delegation of authorities to the rector. When the number of students reach over 200,000, there should be a governance structure.

"Keep UiTM in the current form but give more power to the rectors who handle every campus," he said when launching the 1 Billion Education Fund (TP1B) organised by UiTM Alumni Association Malaysia here, Saturday night.

Najib said the concept of autonomy was most appropriate to keep UiTM as a sacred Bumiputera institution.

Despite the autonomy, he would not compromise or change UiTM's existing concept to retain its original structure.

About TP1B, the Prime Minister said its establishment made UiTM the pioneer in the endowment culture in the country.

"Although Malaysia is a country that provide the highest allocation for education, it cannot be considered as sustainable.

"We have to find another source, including from endowment and this is the role of TP1B," he added.

TP1B was inspired by Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh in 2014 to raise RM1 billion from UiTM alumni intended for scholarships, welfare aid, upgrading of faculties and sponsor research and development.

The TP1B board of trustees chaired by Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin has successful UiTM alumni as members including MARA director-general Datuk Ibrahim Ahmad and Celcomaxiata Bhd CEO, Datuk Seri Shazally Ramly.