Former academician Dr Syed Husin Ali has expressed shock over news that Universiti Malaya (UM) will relocate its campus from Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, to a large swath of undeveloped land in Sepang Selangor.

"I was shocked and a great number of the UM Alumni have expressed consternation on hearing that there is a plan to relocate UM to Sepang," said Syed Husin in a statement today

The move is reportedly part of a property developer's proposal to turn the 300ha campus into a commercial and residential township to complement its RM1.2 billion Damansara City project.

According to Business Times yesterday, GuocoLand Bhd - a property developer controlled by billionaire banker Quek Leng Chan - has made a bid for the university grounds.

Citing sources, the newspaper said the company intends to develop a commercial and residential township on the area, which has an estimated gross development value of RM10 billion.

If the proposal is approved, the university will be relocated to the developer's 4,860ha land bank in Sepang.

Syed Husin said: "Apparently, the plan aims to kill two birds with one stone, one, to maximise profits from the development of the present university site and, two, the sale of these bungalows and villas to university staff, which it would otherwise face great difficulty to dispose of.

"Presumably, it hopes to sell these to the university staff, if it succeeds in relocating UM."

He noted that there is "little or no concern" over the impact of the move.

"The intended relocation will certainly (disrupt) the lives of thousands of academic and non-academic staff of the university and their families," said Syed Husin, a former lecturer at the university and now deputy president of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Inseparable identity

The campus was established in 1959, after the university was set up as an autonomous entity following its separation from the University of Malaya, Singapore.

Although there were lobbies to site the campus near Johore Bahru and elsewhere, the location remained even after Universiti Malaya was officially founded in 1962.

"The UM has developed into an institution with a strong historical and academic tradition. It has served higher education well and contributed considerably towards the process of nation building. A large number of its graduates have been and are important political and administrative leaders of the country," said Syed Husin.

"Universiti Malaya and Lembah Pantai are one, the same and inseparable. There should be no attempt to separate them, especially if entirely for commercial purposes that will enrich only a handful few who are already extremely rich."

GuocoLand's share price gained 87.3 percent six days prior to yesterday to RM3.26. Registered in Singapore, the property developer recently announced plans to invest US$5.4 billion in China.

Meanwhile, UM vice-chancellor Rafiah Salim has denied receiving a proposal from Quocoland to develop Lembah Pantai, according to Sin Chew Daily today.

The daily also reported Higher Education Minister Mustapha Mohamed as saying there would not be development in the area, describing the university

grounds as having significant historical and cultural value.