The idea for an institution of higher learning for the Malays was first mooted at the 1903 Rulers’ Conference, or Durbar. The Malay intellectual Za’ba, wrote about such a need in the newsletter Lembaga Melayu in 1917. A movement, and subsequent debates, among Malay intellectuals, for the setting up a university using the Malay language as the medium of instruction in the institution of higher learning was formed in 1923 when another Malay thinker Abdul Kadir Adabi, submitted a memorandum on the matter to the HRH the Sultan of Kelantan. However, the effort came to nothing due to many obstacles and resistance from the colonial authorities. Nevertheless from 1957 until 1967, a resurgence of nationalism revived the idea, and in 1968 Malay scholars formed a steering committee to bring the vision of a national university to reality. A slew of meetings on cultural and political exchanges eventually secured an agreement from the government of the day. The efforts to realize a Malay language-based institution in all subjects bore fruit and resulted in The National University Of Malaysia (UKM), in May 18 1970, which opened is doors in Lembah Pantai Kuala Lumpur. The first batch of 190 undergraduates and 1 post-graduates registered at 3 faculties; Science, Arts and Islamic Studies. In 1974 , UKM set up a campus in Kebun Kawang, Papar. Later the place was renamed Limauan by the then Sabah Chief Minister Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun. The campus housed the Science and Natuiral Resources faculty, which was moved to Bukit Padang, Kota Kinabalu in 1980. It later relocated to Menggatal, Tuaran in 1990 along with the faculty of Developmental Science which originally was based in the main campus of Bangi. With the formation of of University malaysia Sabah in 1994, UKM’s Sabah campus was officially closed in 1996 and the faculties permanently located back tio the main campus in Bangi, Selangor.