Diplomat: Over 200,000 M'sian received Australian scrolls

Sarawak Tribune - Monday, 15 July 2002 (page 3) 

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SANTUBONG - Over 200,000 Malaysians have acquired formal education in Australia over the years, Deputy High Commissioner of Australia to Malaysia, Nicholas Brown disclosed at the launching cum dinner of the Sarawak Alumni of the University of Adelaide at Damai Lagoon Resort here Saturday night.

He said there are currently about 25,000 Malaysians studying and pursuing various courses in Australia of which 13,000 to 14,000 are in Australia and the rest are doing their courses locally through distance learning and twinning programmes with Australian universities.

"Education has always played a very important part in building bilateral relationship between our countries. This aspect of our relationship is very important and it has helped broadened the relationship that our countries have been enjoying over the years," Brown said. On the economic aspect, he said Malaysia is among Australia's top 12 trading partner with trade estimated at RM16 billion.

Meanwhile, Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Dato Sri Haji Adenan Satem, who represented the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud who is also the President of the Sarawak Alumni of the University of Adelaide, at the launching of the alumni appealed to the Sarawak graduates of the University of Adelaide to render their full support to the alumni by enrolling themselves as members and also actively participating in the activities that have been lined up.

Adenan, who is also deputy president of SAUA said there were a number of Sarawak graduates of the University of Adelaide who had become important people in the society. He said the time they spent in Australia have been the most important formative years of their lives. According to him, Australia, particularly Adelaide will always have a warm place in the hearts and mind of those from Sarawak who have studied there.

"That is why we are gathering here tonight and that is the reason we formed the association in order to keep the flame burning, he said. He said the people of the two countries should maintain the good relationship that had been built and developed over the years. The person-to-person, family-to-family, and peopleto-people relationship that have been developed between the people of the two countries should be further promoted and maintained.

The Chair of the University of Adelaide Alumni Association, Greg Crafter and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Professor C.D. Blake AO, organising chairman and editor of Sarawak Alumni of the University of Adelaide, Rodger Chan Siong Bob also spoke at the function.

Among those present at the dinner were Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Land and Community Development Tan Sri Datuk Amar Alfred Jabu and Numpang and former acting Head of State Tan Sri Datuk Amar Hail Hamdan Sirat, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Steve Shim and also University of Adelaide's alumni members from other chapters like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Australia.