Fudan University branch campus in Miri receives letter of no objection from MOHE — Dr Sim
by Cindy Lai · Borneo Post OnlineMIRI (March 30): The Ministry of Higher Education has given a letter of no objection to the establishment of a Fudan University branch campus in Miri, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He said with the federal-level support for the proposed campus, Sarawak is poised to take a decisive step closer to hosting the branch campus with plans for an upcoming visit to the China Ministry of Education’s Department of Higher Education.
Dr Sim said the letter, issued after Cabinet’s decision on December 2025, affirmed that the federal government has no objection to the establishment of the campus, while the Ministry of Higher Education will continue to provide guidance to facilitate the necessary submissions and regulatory processes.
“We are now moving into the implementation phase. With support from Sarawak and the federal government, what remains is to complete the formalities with the Chinese authorities so that we can realise the establishment of the Fudan University branch campus in Miri,” he told a press conference at a local hotel here on Saturday after visiting a site for the university.
He noted that discussions have already been held with Fudan representatives and the next critical step is to engage directly with China’s Ministry of Education to secure their approval.
Highlighting the urgency of the project, Dr Sim stressed that the proposed campus will prioritise the establishment of a medical school, in view of Sarawak’s acute shortage of doctors, currently estimated at about 2,000.
He pointed out that while there are some 5,000 medical posts available nationwide, only 538 placements have been filled, according to the Ministry of Health, leaving a shortage of over 4,000 doctors.
“The medical faculty is critical for us. Fudan’s medical school is not an ordinary one. It includes postgraduate level, and this is the kind of quality we hope to bring to Sarawak,” he said.
He added that once the university is established, Miri is expected to undergo significant transformation, not only as an emerging education hub, but also in terms of increased international connectivity, including the potential for more direct flights.