SHAH ALAM, Oct 19 — The Selangor government and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) are joining forces to host the Festival of Ideas (FOI) Selangor 2025, an initiative aimed at positioning Malaysia as an inclusive hub of knowledge and innovation.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari highlighted the importance of fostering Malaysia as a centre for knowledge and innovation that is celebrated inclusively, in line with efforts to build a comprehensive and collaborative knowledge ecosystem.
“Malaysia should be celebrated as a hub of knowledge, ideas, and innovation. The Festival of Ideas, introduced by Dato’ Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and the Higher Education Ministry since 2024, has opened vast opportunities for impactful ideas and research.
“This initiative continues to strengthen innovation and ideas generated through research, studies, and intellectual discourse,” he said.
Amirudin said the FOI, recently launched at UiTM Sri Iskandar, Perak, by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, will be held progressively across the country to promote a culture of knowledge and cross-sector collaboration.
“This year, FOI Selangor will take place on October 25 and 26 at UiTM Shah Alam. It represents a strategic synergy between the state government and UiTM to nurture an informed generation, expand networks of ideas, and cultivate innovation that benefits society,” he stated.
The soft launch of FOI Selangor 2025 was officiated yesterday at the foyer of the Selangor State Secretary’s Office.
Amirudin also expressed appreciation to UiTM for its commitment in organising the event, which is expected to attract more researchers, students, and industry players to strengthen local innovation capacity.
“Congratulations to UiTM for this initiative, which not only recognises the potential of young innovators and researchers but also enhances efforts to position Selangor and Malaysia as regional centres for ideas and innovation,” he said.
Meanwhile, UiTM Vice-Chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin said the FOI serves as an important platform to democratise knowledge and connect academia with industry and community needs.
“The FOI is not merely an academic event but a major platform that brings together researchers, innovators, and the public to showcase thought leadership and research that make tangible impacts on people’s lives,” he said.
He added that FOI Selangor reflects UiTM’s commitment to uniting knowledge and innovation for the well-being of the people, aligning with the government’s aspiration to build an informed and globally competitive society.
“UiTM is honoured to receive this trust. We believe FOI will serve as a bridge between academia, industry, and the community, nurturing a sustainable culture of innovation at the national level.”
The two-day event features a wide range of activities, including academic discourses, idea presentations, innovation exhibitions, leadership forums, community workshops, and research sharing sessions.
FOI is expected to be one of the largest academic and innovation platforms of the year, bringing together scholars, researchers, government agencies, industry players, and students from across Malaysia to strengthen the national ecosystem of knowledge and creativity.
