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[VIDEO] After royal rebuke, questions linger as to why Mat Sabu didn’t check before proposing change in UPM name

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at Universiti Putra Malaysia's 48th convocation ceremony in Seri Kembangan Selangor on Nov 30, 2024.

Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, earlier today, decreed Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) name will remain.

Being UPM’s chancellor, Sultan Sharafuddin said that he and the university’s board of trustees were not consulted regarding any proposal to change UPM’s name.

“I do not agree with the proposal,” he said at the university’s 48th convocation ceremony in Seri Kembangan, Selangor today.

The Selangor Ruler was responding to Agriculture and Food Security Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, who on Nov 28, said a proposal to revert UPM to its original name, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, would be submitted to the Cabinet for discussion.

Mohamad Sabu, popularly known as Mat Sabu, was quoted as saying the change of name seemed appropriate, given Malaysia’s present focus on food security, and the advancement of the agricultural sector.

The royal rebuke, however, raised questions as to why didn’t Mohamad Sabu speak to the university before suggesting the name change.

Sultan Sharafuddin added UPM’s name should be maintained, adding it was in honour of the name of first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-haj.

“I would like to remind those who do not understand history to read and examine historical facts before making any statements, especially involving UPM,” Sultan Sharafuddin said.