KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) has been urged to fulfill its role as a public higher education institution by producing more professional and technical Bumiputera graduates.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi highlighted that, according to data from the Statistics Department Malaysia, less than 51 percent of Bumiputera individuals have expertise in professional and technical fields.

He emphasized that UiTM is not just any public higher education institution under the Higher Education Ministry, but one specifically established to cultivate professionals and technocrats.

"The government hopes that UiTM will increase the number of Bumiputera pursuing studies in professional and technical fields.

"In the past, UiTM had a visionary National Education Figure, Tun Arshad Ayub, who was a pioneer in vocational and technical education.

"I hope that UiTM can continue to produce such forward-thinking individuals," he said during the Karisma Pemikir Madani programme here today.

Also present was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The programme, organized by the Malaysian National Academy in collaboration with UiTM, aims to align UiTM's direction with the Malaysia Madani agenda and the appreciation of the Rukun Negara.