KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 19): Minda Global Bhd, which debuted on Bursa Malaysia’s Main Board today after taking over the listed status of Asiamet Education Group Berhad (AEGB), said it will focus on reenergising its business strategy and implementing a more prudent financial management over the next 12 to 18 months.

The education group serves over 5,000 students from over 35 countries. It now seeks to develop new programmes to expand its study disciplines and improve growth in student intake, it said in a statement today.

Minda Global opened half a sen lower at 21.5 sen today, after it delayed its Bursa debut from Thursday. At 10.24am, the counter with the stock short name MINDA slid further, down one sen or 4.54% to 21 sen.

The education group plans to achieve a higher level of synergy between its various holdings. Its director Tan Sri R. Palan said Minda Global is well-positioned to face the challenges of the industry.

Minda Global currently owns Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences (CUCMS), a health science-focused university that was recently rated 5-Star (Excellent) by the Ministry of Higher Education through their SETARA ratings exercise, Asia Metropolitan University, which operates campuses in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bharu, as well as Asia Metropolitan Colleges in Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Kota Bharu. 

The group also has a presence in the international school sector through its ownership of the Asia Metropolitan International School in Ipoh. 

“We have a larger group, strong institutional synergy, new board members with strong reputation and a new senior management team,” R. Palan said. 

“With CUCMS, we have a five-star university with a very focused line-up of programmes, where else Asia Metropolitan University and its related colleges provide the group with a wider geographical footprint and the ability to develop a broad-suite of programmes that are tailored to the needs of different local communities,” R. Palan added.