By Azman Zakaria
Photo by Noor Azreen Awang
SERDANG, 4 April - Tengku Syarif Laksamana Perlis Dato’ Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamalullail, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) wanted UPM staff to continue to strive to produce graduates of great calibre, integrity and employability who can meet the needs of the rapidly changing industry and agricultural sector.
Hence, he reminded all UPM staff to never be complacent with their achievements. Instead, they should aim for greater heights.
“We cannot be satisfied with our current success because both education and agriculture are highly dynamic and rapidly evolving. Thus, we have to reflect why we succeeded before and at the same time identify any mistakes made in order to move forward in the future,” he said during a sharing session with UPM staff in Panggung
Percubaan PKKSSAAS in UPM. Also present were Prof. Datin Paduka Dato’ Dr. Aini Ideris, UPM’s Vice-Chancellor, academicians, officers and the support staff of UPM.
Tengku Syarif Laksamana Perlis Dato’ Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan who is a member of UPM Alumni Class of 1972 believed that UPM is like a factory that produces holistic graduates.
He added that in an organisation, good governance is essential and ‘check and balance’ is needed to gain success.
“If there is an error, speak up. This is because it is better to correct the changes at an early stage. If we do not speak up and address the error then we are also responsible for making the error,” he said.
As the Chairman of LPU, he does not want to meddle in the management duties or any associations except when there is a need to speak up or else UPM will pay the price.
He added that although the internal politics of an organisation cannot be avoided completely, it can be reduced because the main objective of UPM is to provide education to the students.
Tengku Syarif Laksamana Perlis Dato’ Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamalullail also said, “All the various departments must work together to generate income and also explore the opportunities found beyond UPM and cannot depend solely on the government.”
The chairman who regards foreign students as guests, also believes that UPM should ‘captivate’ them as some of these students would surely return to their respective countries and become ministers, officers and captains of their industry.
“These foreign students will then be ‘walking advertisements’ and ambassadors who would promote UPM” he said.
The chairman also revealed that he loves UPM and has gained many experiences since his student days in UPM which was formerly known as ‘Kolej Pertanian’.
Although he is the son of a sultan, he revealed that just like other students, he too experienced washing his own clothes during his college days and was even scolded by a senior student.
“This institution has shaped me into the person I am today. I am very grateful to UPM and my fellow friends,” he said. - UPM
