In 1996, the Bachelor of Science in Land Development program was initiated at the Department of Land Administration, Faculty of Geoinformation Science and Engineering (FGSE) at UTM Skudai.

In 2004, the Bachelor of Science in Land Development program started at UTM Skudai. The same program was also introduced in 2005 at UTM Kuala Lumpur on a coastal or weekend basis. Subsequently, it expanded to Kedah, Perak, Kota Kinabalu, Johor, and Kuala Lumpur.

By around 2008, there were approximately 500 graduates in land administration and development from UTM at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. About 10 doctoral graduates in related fields were also produced. UTM is the only higher education institution offering such programs.

At the same time, UTM appointed YBhg. Dato’ Dr Nik Mohd Zain Yusof (former Secretary General of the Ministry of Land), the late Dato’ Salleh Buang, Professor Dr Derek Nicholls from Cambridge University, UK, and YBhg. Prof Dato’ Dr Azimuddin Bahari as visiting professors. They greatly contributed to the success of programs and alumni-related activities.

As the number of graduates in land administration and development increased, the idea of establishing a related alumni association emerged. Inspired by the Land Society Cambridge alumni, the Land Administration and Development (LAD) Club was established before being officially registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) as the Malaysian Professional Real Estate Association or PERTAMA in 2014. Then, in 2016, PERTAMA was upgraded to a national-level organization and recognized as the Malaysian Land Professionals Association.