PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is set to revert Universiti Putra Malaysia to its original name, highlighting the growing global importance of agriculture amid fears of food shortages.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that he would bring the proposal to the Cabinet meeting soon.
He stated that he intends to restore UPM's original name, as changes in climate and global warming, particularly in agriculture, were not anticipated in the past.
"Currently, agriculture has become a global issue and is being discussed at an international level," he said to reporters at the Malaysia Idea Conference (MyIDEAS) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) today.
In 1997, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) would be known as Universiti Putra Malaysia, in line with its growing involvement in the field of science and technology.
Mahathir explained that the new name was chosen due to the university's proximity to Putrajaya, the new government administrative centre in the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC).
The name change also served to honour Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra.
Earlier in his speech, Mohamad Sabu said the role of Institutions of Higher Learning is crucial in optimising contributions to food security through skilled human capital, research and innovation, and the modernisation of agriculture.
He added that with existing expertise, agricultural and agro-food productivity could be enhanced through sustainable technology for the benefit of the farming community.
Mohamad Sabu also stated that it is appropriate to restore the university's original name.
He mentioned that the proposal would be put forward to the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), to move forward with this matter.
"All sectors are important, but if there is a shortage of food, it will become a problem for everyone," he added.