Centre of Regulatory Studies Launched

(From left) Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Datuk Rafiah Salim, Universiti Malaya board of directors chairman, Tan Sri Arshad Ayub, Higher Education Minister Datuk Khaled Nordin, Khazanah Nasional executive director of Research and Investment Strategy Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi and Khazanah Nasional Board Exco chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof at the MoU signing ceremony.

New Straits Times, 24 April 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: The first Malaysian Centre of Regulatory Studies was launched recently with a RM30 million endowment from Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

The centre, also known as University of Malaya Malaysian Centre of Regulatory Studies (UMCoRS), will be the focal point for multi-disciplinary research and study in areas that intersect between law, business and economics.

"We are in the process of securing a grant from the Ministry of Finance for the start-up operations of the centre," said UM vice-chancellor Datuk Rafiah Salim.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between UM and Khazanah to endow the centre through the Khazanah Nasional chair. Rafiah said the centre would also serve as a platform for scholars as well as the industry to engage in regulatory issues.

Besides conducting research, the centre will also produce publications, offer academic and executive development courses, hold conferences, workshops, seminars and forums.
Courses which will be offered include microeconomic principles, political economy of regulation, and the regulation of specific industries such as the network industries and the financial sector.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin who launched the centre hoped that UMCoRS would be able to address the need for trained personnel in the area of regulation.

"It is important for our local universities to increase their efforts in the areas of research and development in order for them to be globally recognised," he said.