New Era College Malaysia (NECM) was conceived many years before the approach of the new millenium as a community-funded tertiary institution. Its realisation today is the result of commitment and persistence by those in the community who care about our society's progress through education, culture and human resource development.

The 8.5 acre piece of land on which the campus stands was originally donated by the local Chinese schools' association in Kajang to Dong Jiao Zong (The Chinese School Committees and School Teachers Associations) in 1974 for use as a tertiary-level education institution.  

The desire of the community for a tertiary institution as an extension of the Malaysian Independent Chinese Chinese Secondary School(MICSS) has been determined and unwavering as manifested in the fund-raising campaign to start the campus.

The first phase of the project was completed in 1993 and the administration of the MICSS moved into these premises the following year. Fund raising for the second phase has almost accomplished its objective.

Planning for the college started in earnest when a formal application for a college licence was made in August 1994. After waiting three years, the college was eventually approved by the Malaysian Education Ministry on 28 May 1997.

The first intake of students at New Era started on 1 March 1998.