TAWAU: The UiTM Sabah Alumni Association is against any proposal to shut down UiTM Sabah Branch Tawau Campus.
They worry this would reduce higher education opportunities for Bumiputera communities, especially in East Coast Sabah.
Chairman Azhar Matussin said the association learned about the plan to close the campus and move operations to the main UiTM campus in Kota Kinabalu.
He explained that UiTM Tawau has operated for three decades since 1996 and still plays an important role in providing higher education access to people in Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and nearby areas.
“Closing Tawau means forcing East Coast Sabah students to travel away to continue their studies. This is a step backward,” he said in a statement.
Azhar noted that UiTM Tawau started in a shop house before moving to a permanent campus in 2006. It has given many Bumiputera students the chance to pursue higher education.
He added that the pre-diploma program offers a second chance to students who did not get places at other public higher education institutions to continue their studies to higher levels.
He also raised concerns about whether the main UiTM Sabah campus in Kota Kinabalu could handle more students if Tawau Campus operations stopped.
According to him, academic facilities and dormitories at the main campus already face capacity limits. This could make it harder for East Coast Sabah students to get study places.
Meanwhile, Azhar stressed that the association does not oppose the plan to build a polytechnic in Tawau. In fact, they support efforts to expand higher education facilities in the area.
However, he said, building a new institution should not lead to UiTM Tawau closing because both have different roles and education goals.
