The British Malaysian Society

Newsletter – Autumn 2014

Society’s AGM Palm oil – from cradle to

The Annual General Meeting of the Society was colossus held on Tuesday 24 June 2014 at the Travellers A Talk by John Goodwin Club, Pall Mall. In his remarks Dato’ Zarir Cama, Chairman of the Society, said it had been an exciting year and new members continue to join. He also said there was a need to interact with other societies and to attract more corporate members. At the end of the formal meeting Datuk Yunus Raiss read his poem in commemoration of Sultan Azlan Shah during the 100 days of mourning. A copy of his poem can be found on the 2014 past events page of our website. John Goodwin The AGM was followed by the President’s John Goodwin gave an exhilarating talk on the Reception hosted by BMS President Sir Mark palm oil industry, focusing especially on Moody-Stuart United Plantations, in Indonesia and . Patron::The Earl of Home He said palm oil was cultivated and (Left to right): Albert Bong (Hon Patron: Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Secretary) Dato’ Zarir Cama processed in a sustainable manner by the President: Sir Mark Moody-Stuart (Chairman) Peter Farrar (Hon Treasurer) company.

Executive Committee UP’s subsidiary companies are engaged in several downstream activities such as Dato’ Zarir Cama (Chairman) processing palm oil, manufacturing, packing Albert Bong (Hon Secretary) and distributing end products in the form of Peter Farrar (Hon Treasurer) cooking oils, edible oils, specialty fats and Dr John Breakell (Education Secretary) soap products. Zehan Albakri-Verden (Culture Secretary) He said United Plantations Berhad is known David Lamb (Commercial Secretary) for its high level of social responsibility and Azimah Heus (Events Organiser) environmental awareness together with the Christine Loh (Deputy Events Organiser) Company's leading role in the research and Dato’ Neville Green (Founding Chairman) development of high yielding palm products. Martin Barrow John moved into the plantation sector, as a Dato’ Johan Raslan senior executive in United Plantations, after an Michael Thompson (Left to right) HE Dato' Ahmad Rasidi initial career in investment banking, including Dato’ Anthony Cooper Hazizi High Commissioner Malaysia in five years in Malaysia. Rahiyah Yahya London and Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, The event was held at The Travellers Club, BMS President Pall Mall, London, on 10 September 2014.

OTHER MALAYSIAN EVENTS IN FORTHCOMING BMS LONDON EVENTS Eid Celebratory Dinner Sunday 5 October Merdeka Carnival 2014 The Society held its Eid Celebratory Dinner at

Tuesday 28 October Venue: Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre Satay House on 6 August 2014. Brickendonbury Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Annual Dinner Hertford SG13 8NL Kingdom, H.E Dato' Ahmad Rasidi and his Venue: Parliament Chamber Time : 10.00am – 5.00pm wife Datin Rosilawati Ab Raffar attended the Inner Temple function. 3 - 6 November London EC4Y 7HL World Travel Market High Commissioner’s Eid Time: 7.00pm for 7.30pm Tourism Malaysia Participation Open House Saturday 8 November H.E Dato' Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi ,Malaysian Lord Mayor’s Show Thursday 13 November High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Tourism Malaysia Participation and his wife Datin Rosilawati Ab Raffar held Talk by Professor Hugh

Montgomery - Matters for survival 20 – 23 November an Eid Open House at his residence on 4 Taste of London Winter August. Members of BMS attended the event. Venue: Imperial College London Malaysian participation Malaysian organisations wishing to have their Time: 6.30pm major events listed in the Forthcoming Events 23 November - 5 December section for Winter Edition (January-March "Malaysia Art Showcase London 2014" Wednesday 10 December 2015) of the BMS Newsletter, please forward Venue: La Galleria, Pall Mall, London listing by 15 December 2014 to: Chairman’s Christmas Reception Time: 10.30 – 5pm (Mon-Fri) [email protected] Time: 6.00 – 8.00pm Organised by MATRADE

Four Partial Piano Malaysia Night 2014 at Trafalgar Square Scholarships for Young Trafalgar Square gave Malaysians in UK itself over to Malaysia

Overseas Malaysia Winter Piano Academy Night hosting a night market that introduced (OMWPA) 2014 has four partial scholarships for young Malaysians at the Yehudi Menuhin School Londoners to the delights of Malaysia, 26 September UK from 13 – 23 December 2014. Two scholarships are given by 2014. The British Malaysian Society to the youngest Malaysia Night was accepted Malaysian Active Participants. launched by Datuk Dr The other two are given by the Institute for Wong Lai Sum, CEO Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) to Malaysia External Trade selected Malaysian Active Participants Development Corporation www.ideas.org.my (MATRADE) For further information, please check More than 20 of the UK's www.omwpa.com best Malaysian eateries offered up satay, OMWPA was established in 2010 by the Malaysian international concert pianist Bobby laksa (spicy noodle soup), char kway teow L-R) Caroline Mili Artiss, TV chef, Ping Chen. Coombes, Masterchef Champion 2014, (stir-fried flat noodle), rendang (intensely Sir Edward Lister, Deputy Mayor London, Tash Aw in conversation spicy meat dish), nasi goreng (fried rice) and apam balik (turnover pancake). Datuk Dr Wong Lai Sum, CEO MATRADE and H.E Dato' Ahmad Rasidi An estimated 40,000 people enjoyed the night at Trafalgar Square. Hazizi, High Commission of Malaysia The event was organised by MATRADE

and Malaysia Kitchen, and supported by The Links: www.malaysiakitchen.co.uk Mayor of London Yiyun Li www.matrade.gov.my (L) and Tash Aw Malaysia 57th National British High Commissioner Day celebrated in designate to Malaysia 7.30 pm for 8.00pm London

Tash Aw and Chinese author Yiyun Li talked to The Guardian literary editor about their book

and the evolution of Asian values that have led them to write about their subjects, at Asia House British High Commissioner designate to on 18 April 2014 Malaysia, Vicki Treadell CMG, MVO, Aw writes about immigration workers and Li met the Malaysian High Commissioner to writes about the impact of the digital age on the United Kingdom, H.E Dato' Ahmad values in China. Rasidi Hazizi at the High Commission of Malaysian author Aw’s Booker Prize long- Malaysia, London, on 4 September 2014. listed Five Star Billionaire charts the lives of The British Malaysian Society extends its Malaysian migrant workers in Shanghai, and the best wishes to her on her new post in Kuala old life they left behind. Lumpur. Aw was at the Pre-Festival of Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival with Yiyun Satay House Eid open house Li, in conversation with Claire Armitstead. Li Malaysian restaurant Satay House held launched her latest novel, Kinder Than Solitude. H.E Dato' Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi High The event was a joint venture with Asia Commissioner Malaysia to the United an Eid open house for its patrons and BMS members on 23 August 2014. House and was attended by many BMS Kingdom and wife Datin Datin members. Rosilawati Ab Raffar hosted the Satay House is a corporate member Malaysia 57th National Day at the of The British Malaysian Society Millennium Hotel. Mayfair, 12 September 2014. Guests included foreign diplomats, Join BMS business and corporate leaders and With a new structure and more regular CONDOLENCES BMS members. events for British Malaysian Society members it has never been a better time Our condolences go out to the families and loved to join! Whatever your connection to ones of the passengers and crew on flight MH17. Malaysia there is likely to be something

for you within the society. We have received the sad news of the death, on Tuesday 26 August, of Simon Featherstone, until Members who have worked and lived recently the British High Commissioner to in Malaysia and have an interesting Malaysia and a good friend of the Society. anecdote to tell, please send a short Members will want to join with us in sending our write-up to: newsletter@ sympathy to his widow Gail and their family thebritishmalaysiansociety.org

Eid open house at Malaysia Kitchen Spring Market Malaysian artist’s High Commission of exhibition at ROA Malaysia London in London Gallery, London LONDON, 3-4 May - Twelve restaurants gathered along the Southbank, between the OXO Tower and Waterloo Bridge, to showcase the very One East Asia mounts first solo best in , at the first-ever Malaysia Kitchen Spring show by Malaysian artist Chang Market , selling tasters and meals ranging from beef rendang, laksa to Fee Ming in London satay. Malaysian food combines Malay, Chinese and Indian flavours to produce some of the best loved dishes in the world.

The Undying Spirit, 1992

Chang Fee Ming: A Traveller’s HE Dato’ Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi (4th Diary (A Private Collection) is from left) with guests the first solo exhibition in

His Excellency Dato' Ahmad Rasidi London of works by the Hazizi, The High Commissioner of celebrated Malaysian Malaysia to the United Kingdom, Visitors experienced this unique country through its food as well as watercolour artist Chang Fee and his wife Datin Rosilawati Ab learning about Malaysian culture through performances and entertainment Ming. Raffar hosted a Eid open house at throughout the day. It ran from 24 June to 4 July at the High Commission of Malaysia Visitors also bought Malaysian ingredients to try and recreate the the ROA Gallery, Royal Opera in Belgrave Square on 28 July 2014. authentic dishes at home. Arcade, Pall Mall. About 2500 people attended the Malaysian Kitchen aims to bring the exotic food of Malaysia to the UK A book to accompany the occasion , including the British and this foodie festival on the Southbank was the perfect place to try it community and diplomatic exhibition, A Traveller’s Diary out! representatives from foreign (2014) has been published by missions based in London and BMS One East Asia, Singapore. members Malaysia celebrates 57th Merdeka Day www.roa-galleria.com / By Rahimy Rahim The Star Sunday August 31, 2014 oneeastasia.org

GREAT Week Malaysia & Singapore 2014

The Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps MP with Ms. Danielle Horsnell, Business Development Executive, British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce

GREAT Week Malaysia and In Merdeka parade, a more steely Malaysia on display Singapore 2014 was formally launched by The Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps MP on Monday 8 September : Malaysia marked its 57th Merdeka Day in subdued to an audience of over 250 British fashion as more than 100,000 people from all walks of life gathered at and Malaysian delegates from the Dataran Merdeka here on Sunday. retail, food & drink and experience Themed "Malaysia, Where Love Grows", the parade started as soon as economy sectors. the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Raja Danielle Horsnell, Business Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah arrived at 8am. Development Executive for the Their Majesties were welcomed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun British Malaysian Chamber of Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. Commerce (BMCC) spoke The King then saluted before the was played by the Royal eloquently to business representatives about how the Malay Regiment's main band. Overseas Business Network The Yang di-Pertuan Agong inspected a-guard-of-honour mounted by Initiative (OBNI) helps to grow 103 member of the regiment, which was followed by three shouts of British businesses. Delegates heard "Daulat Tuanku (Long Live the King)" and hoisting of the national flag how the BMCC offers B2B Support accompanied by the singing of Negaraku and later, the firing of a 14-gun Services to SMEs to provide a soft salute. landing for UK firms - offering Malaysians at the iconic Dataran Merdeka also observed a moment of guidance on the legal and regulatory silence in prayers for the country's patriots and fallen soldiers who had environment, advice on overcoming fought for the country's independence. cultural boundaries as well as Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, facilitat ing business matching and risk management. former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Cabinet Ministers, and .Further information on OBNI in foreign leaders as well as other dignitaries. Malaysia can be found on the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce http://www.thestar.com.my website. (Acknowledgment: Extracted from The Star, Malaysia) www.bmcc.org.my

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