Kota Kinabalu – The Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) in Ranau, Sabah, is poised to welcome its first batch of students in March next year, following its completion on September 25. This announcement was made by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initial intake will include 180 students for Form One and Form Four. Located at an altitude of 721 meters above sea level, MRSM Ranau holds the distinction of being the highest MRSM in the country, with a capacity to accommodate up to 450 students. The handover ceremony of MRSM Ranau from Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) to the Sabah government and MARA was attended by Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and Petronas president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik.
MRSM Ranau, situated at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, was built with financial backing from Petronas. In a statement released in conjunction with the ceremony, Petronas revealed that the construction of MRSM Ranau involved a collaboration with the Sabah government and MARA and was developed at a cost of RM132 million. The statement highlighted that the facilities at MRSM Ranau have been meticulously planned to cater to the needs of students, teachers, and campus management, expressing confidence in the potential of Sabah’s youth to excel academically in this new environment.