The Distinguished Public Lecture Series 1.0 organised by the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies (UAC) at Za’ba Memorial Library brought together policymakers, economists, academics and strategic partners to discuss the political economy of budgeting and its influence on Malaysia’s development pathway. Dato’ Sri Mustafa Mohammad opened the session by emphasising fiscal discipline, financial literacy and the need for strong national buffers, while Professor Dr. Ichiro Sugimoto provided historical insights into Johor’s colonial-era budgeting practices.
Contemporary perspectives were shared by Dr. Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid and Dr. Ridzuan Kushairi Mohd Ramli, who examined current economic pressures, labour market dynamics, the role of GLCs and priorities under the 13th Malaysia Plan. Overall, the lecture underscored budgeting as a crucial tool for balancing stability, equity and long-term national transformation.
The National STEM Expo 2026, held from 11 to 12 February at KL Gateway, concluded successfully with strong momentum in advancing the nation’s STEM agenda. The Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies (UAC) of Universiti Malaya (UM) participated as an exhibitor, showcasing research outputs from its Associate Researchers and presenting publications highlighting the contributions of Royal Professor Ungku Aziz to further strengthening UAC’s role in knowledge transfer and research dissemination.
A key highlight of the expo was a 10-minutes TED Talk delivered by Professor Dr. Melati Sumari from the Faculty of Education, who presented findings from the Rahmah Therapy Project, an initiative to be implemented by UAC. UAC extends its appreciation to all visitors and looks forward to continued collaboration in future outreach and research-based initiatives.
| IMPORTANT DATES | ACTIVITIES | STAKEHOLDERS | TARGETED COMMUNITY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06 March 2026 | Bubur Lambuk @ UAC | Universiti Malaya | Students, Lecturers, Community of Inderaloka |
| 11 March 2026 | UAC Distinguished Public Lecture Series 2/2026 | Universiti Malaya | Students, Lecturers, NGOs |
Last Update: 25/02/2026