style="text-transform: uppercase;">Labuan: The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development has approved the construction of the Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) in the duty-free-island here and its location is to be identified soon. The project was earlier proposed in Putrajaya but shifted to Labuan after taking into consideration the position of Putrajaya as the federal administration centre.

"We have decided to build the MRSM in Labuan as this will help enhance national integration, with more students from Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak pursuing studies here," its Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob told reporters after officiating the Labuan Umno divisional delegates meeting, here, Sunday.

He said with Labuan being the oil and gas hub (O&G), programmes focusing on O&G related field would be promoted by Giatmara.

"The Giatmara here will be upgraded with better facilities to cater for the needs of oil and gas related programmes," he said.

Ismail said his ministry would give its full support on development programmes for Labuan including the long-standing issue of Labuan bridge proposal.

Earlier, Ismail urged party members to strengthen the party for the sake of the Malays.

"A weak Umno will have negative impact on the Malays because Umno, which has 3.7 million members nationwide, is the largest Malay party," he said.

Ismail regretted that some Umno members were influenced by lies spread by the opposition who were bent on running down the party's leadership.

"A weak Umno will not only become a burden for the president but also the party members while the Malays will end up as the victims," he added.