The Regent of Kelantan, Dr Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra ibni Sultan Ismail Petra, was proclaimed on Monday as the new Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) to succeed Sultan Muhammad V who is now the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The appointment of His Royal Highness as the chancellor for a five-year period up to 2022 was consented to by Sultan Muhammad V on Feb 12 and the proclamation was made today by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh at a ceremony at the UMK City Campus in Pengkalan Chepa here.

Tengku Muhammad Faiz, 43, has a doctorate in history from the University College of London.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob; Chairman of the UMK Board of Directors Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman and UMK Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mortaza Mohamed were also present at the event.

In his address at the ceremony, Tengku Muhammad Faiz said he wanted UMK to focus efforts on improving quality and excellence in all aspects that determined the strength and branding of the university.

-- BERNAMA