Background of PTRC

PTRC was initially known as the Plasma Research Laboratory (PRL) under the Physics Department starting in 1965. Also in 1965, HRH Prince Philip from Great Britain visited the UM Physics Department and contributed a large capacitor bank to start the Plasma Physics Laboratory under the Colombo Plan. Therefore, in 1966, the first Master's degree student was born in the Department of Physics, with a thesis in the field of plasma research.

From 1972 to 1991, Emeritus Prof. Lee Sing has led PRL and plasma research is very active with the development of international research networks. He is also the founder of the Asian African Association for Plasma Training (AAAPT), where PRL Universiti Malaya is a plasma technology training center for researchers from other countries. PRL organizes a Training Program in Plasma and Laser Technology, together with ICTP (International Center of Theoretical Physics, https://www.ictp.it/). University of Malaya (UM) Vice Chancellor Professor Syed Hussein Alatas signed the Memorandum of Agreement at ICTP, Trieste, Italy.