Alumni associations can help contribute to the success of the national education agenda to generate quality human capital for the country's progress and prosperity, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

"I feel that every collaborative process undertaken by alumni associations could benefit and add value to all quarters and capable of generating economic growth," he said at the Universiti Teknologi Mara's (UiTM) "Symphony of Love Night" here Saturday night.

His speech was read by Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

Citing the 500,000-strong UiTM alumni as a catalyst in creating various activities and enhance relations among ex-students, Muhyiddin said the number could be a strong force to formulate any programmes for the benefit of alumni, including helping upcoming graduates find jobs, and strengthen UiTM.

He said world's renowned universities such as Harvard became stronger and stronger through the power of alumni connections and was reputed to have endowment worth RM100 billion generated from its alumni to finance its programmes.

Commending the UiTM Malaysia Alumni Association for the setting up of a fund with an initial target of RM1 billion in its coffer by collecting RM2,000 from each alumnus, he said it could succeed if the alumni embraced the spirit of giving back to the institution.

At the event, Affin Bank Bhd and Affin Islamic Bank Bhd presented tithes amounting to RM4.5 million for the construction of the At-Tijarah Complex at the UiTM Puncak Alam Campus.