Kuching, 12 September - A courtesy visit by YAM Tengku Syarif Laksamana Perlis Dato Seri DiRaja Syed Razlan Ibni Syed Putra Jamalullail, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University and UPM Top Management Member to the office of YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier Sarawak to present the inaugural 46th Convocation Ceremony held at UPMKB on 1 November 2022 and to present an invitation to him  to attend the ceremony.

In today's meeting, the Prime Minister of Sarawak also agreed to approve the RM 3 million paddy transformation project, AgriHub@Gedong. A first phase fund of RM 1.4 million was presented at the meeting. AgriHub@Gedong is a starting point towards smart rice farming practices in Sarawak. The main target of the project is to increase the productivity of paddy from 2 t/ha to 10 t/ha, which is five (5) harvests every two (2) years by using soil conditioner technology and smart agriculture as a result of UPM researchers' research which will increase the income of farmers in Gedong.

In addition, YAB Premier Sarawak also agreed to the proposed naming of a new orchid species under the name Bulbophyllom abangjoeii, named after him. The orchid species has been through a 15-year study by a team of UPM researchers led by Professor Dr. Rusea Go before being legally registered as a new species. Interestingly, this species is found only in the forests of Sarawak.

Also present at the meeting was YH. Dato' Prof. Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Dr. Ismi Arif Ismail, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic and International Affairs; Prof. Ir. Dr. B.T. Hang Tuah Baharudin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Industry and Community Partnership; Prof. Dr. Shahrul Razid Sarbini, Director of UPM Bintulu Sarawak Campus; and Dato' Prof. Dr. Abdul Muati@Zamri Ahmad, Director of UPM Centre for Strategy and Corporate Relations.