KUCHING – His Excellency Tun Pehin Sri Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi bin Tuanku Jaafar, Sarawak’s State Chief Executive, together with Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah binti Mohd Sanusi, received a courtesy visit from the National Aerospace Industry Corporation (NAICO) Malaysia and i-CATS University College at the Sarawak Astana, Petra Jaya, on Wednesday morning.
The delegation from NAICO was led by its Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Ts. Dr. Shamsul Kamar Abu Samah, accompanied by Encik Mohd Sazali Mohamed Amin.
Representatives from i-CATS University College included Vice-Chancellor Professor Emeritus Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, Professor Ir. Dr. Shuhaimi bin Mansor, Dr. Nurul Zubaidah binti Zaki, and Encik Abdul Qaiyum bin Alidin.
The visit centred on NAICO’s role in advancing Malaysia’s aerospace industry, particularly in the fields of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Aeromanufacturing.
Delegates also shared details of collaborative initiatives between NAICO and i-CATS aimed at strengthening industry-academia partnerships.
These efforts include integrating real-world aerospace knowledge into academic programmes, ensuring students gain exposure to the latest developments in aircraft systems and satellite engineering.
During the session, Tun Pehin Sri and Toh Puan were briefed on i-CATS’ ongoing capacity-building initiatives in aerospace education.
The university is actively expanding expertise in systems engineering, satellite technology, aircraft design, avionics, and aerospace system integration, positioning itself as a key contributor to Sarawak’s technological advancement.
Tun Pehin Sri expressed appreciation for the collaboration, noting that i-CATS plays a vital role in nurturing talent and supporting the growth of the aerospace sector in Sarawak.
He emphasised that such initiatives align with the state’s broader vision of becoming a competitive, high-tech hub in Borneo.
He further highlighted the importance of transforming Sarawak into a centre for aerospace innovation, which would benefit not only Sarawakians but also Malaysians more widely.
“The role of i-CATS is very important in strengthening the development of the aerospace industry in Sarawak,” he said, adding that the state government’s aspirations in technology and engineering are closely tied to these efforts.
The courtesy visit underscored the significance of collaboration between government, industry, and academia in driving forward Sarawak’s aerospace ambitions.
With NAICO’s expertise and i-CATS’ educational initiatives, the state is positioning itself to play a leading role in the region’s aerospace development.
