UUM SINTOK CAMPUS SHOULD BE MADE DUTY FREE ZONE - VC

By: Shuhaida Mohd Said

ALOR SETAR, Feb 25 (Bernama) - Tourism activities at the Malaysia-Thailand border will take-off if Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) main campus in Sintok is made duty free zone.

UUM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak said this would bring economic development good for the management university.

"The duty free zone will attract many top companies and international franchisers. It will give students opportunity to participate and learn how the companies are managed," he told Bernama here today.

Mustafa said UUM is willing to allocate land to companies interested to base their business at the campus covering 1,061 hectares.

"We will ensure it does not interfere with the education system and that the companies can do business comfortably. The duty free zone is the catalyst needed."

He added the duty free zone would make UUM an international management university that will attract students and scholars at home and abroad.

"Unlike other institutions of higher learning, UUM is isolated and only duty free zone will be able to attract investors.

"It will indirectly contribute to proliferation of edu-tourism as UUM has many international students."

Mustafa said the proposal for duty-free zone had been submitted to the government and the university hopes it would receive support.

Studies found that the UUM campus is suitable as duty free zone as it is close to the North-South Expressway.

Established 27 years ago, UUM has about 34,000 students from 42 countries including 3,000 foreigners.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said yesterday he is not against the UUM proposal but the decision lies with the Finance Ministry.
-- BERNAMA