The British Malaysian Society

Newsletter – Winter 2017/18

BMS Chairman’s Christmas Reception and Portrait of Tuanku Abdul Rahman celebration of the 60th year of Merdeka unveiled at Inner Temple

A concert celebrating 60 years of Merdeka Lord Sheikh of Cornhill addressing guests. Looking on is Dato' Anthony Cooper, BMS Chairman.

BMS photo The unveiling of the portrait of Almaarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman Tuanku Muhammad, the first Yang di- Pertuan Agong of independent Malaya at the Inner Temple, London, on 4 November 2017. Picture by Matthew Stokes of Miranda Parry by kind permission of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. A portrait of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) The BMS Chairman's Christmas Reception and Celebration of 60th Year of Merdeka was held Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku at The House of Lords, in the Cholmondeley Room, on Monday 18 December 2017. The Mohamed, GCMG of independent Malaya was unveiled event was sponsored by PwC . and presented to the Inner Temple where he was called The welcome address was by the sponsoring Peer, The Lord Sheikh of Cornhill, following to the bar nearly 90 years ago in 1928, an introduction and opening remarks by Dato' Anthony Cooper who spoke about the strong The Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, relationship between the BMS and Malaysia, noting that several people from Malaysia had Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir and flown to the UK to attend the event. his family were guests of honour at this special event. In his speech Lord Sheikh spoke of his relation with Malaysia and fond memories of Malaya Other guests included friends of the Negri Sembilan (Malaysia) Hall in Bryanston Square London W1 and stressed the extensive trade and bilateral royal family, senior members of the Inner Temple, relations with Malaysia. Lord Sheikh also noted the strong historical and present relationship Malaysian representatives and students along with some between the UK and Malaysia and the number of Malaysian students at British universities. members of the BMS. The portrait was commissioned and gifted to the Inn There was an exquisite performance by soprano Beibei Wang delighting the guests. More than 100 members and guests attended the function. by the Malaysian Inner Temple Alumni Association.

The BMS is grateful to Lord Sheikh for being our sponsor in the House of Lords and Professor Sir David Greenaway honoured to PwC Malaysia for sponsoring the event. for contribution to education in Malaysia

BMS Annual Dinner at the Inner Temple

The Society’s Annual Dinner was held in the Parliament Chamber of the Inner Temple, London, on Tuesday 31 October. The theme of the dinner was ‘Celebrating 60 years of Merdeka’. After opening comments by BMS Chairman , Dato’ Anthony Cooper, the welcome speech was given by David DYMM Sultan Nazrin Shah and DYMM Raja Permaisuri Pittaway QC, Treasurer of the Inner Tuanku Zara Salim with Sir David and Lady Susan Temple. The guest speaker was The Lord Powell Professor Sir David Greenaway, the former Vice- Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, has of Bayswater, KCMG. received one of the highest honours awarded in HE Dato’ Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi, High (L-R) HE Dato’ Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi, Sir Mark Malaysia. Sir David’s contribution to education in Commissioner of Malaysia, was present. Moody-Stuart, BMS President, Euvian Tan, BMS Malaysia was recognised through the highly prestigious

Secretary and BMS member Boyd McCleary award in the Sultan Nazrin Shah’s Photo: BMS birthday honours. The award Darjah Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Perak was EVENTS IN 2018 bestowed by the Sultan himself at an official ceremony at The Istana Kenangan in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, on 5 Thursday April 5 4 January Rosemary Fell and Tuesday 24 April November 2017. The title is considered the Malaysian Talk by Tony Collingridge, OBE Tunku Abidin on “Malaysia and ASEAN in equivalent to a knighthood. “Prospects for the Malaysian economy, the next decade“- venue TBA Sir David became Vice-Chancellor at Nottingham in trade and investment in 2018” 2008 and retired in September 2017. In 2014 he was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Venue : Offices of Crowe Clark Whitehill St Bride's House, 10 Salisbury Square OTHER EVENTS. Members will be notified of Sir David is a Vice-President of The British Malaysian Society and the BMS congratulates him on his award. London EC4Y 8EH other events to which they will be invited,

Time: 6.00PM including those organised by My-UK and Join BMS Tuesday 27 February Malaysian Government bodies, including MIDA Whatever your connection to Malaysia there is likely to Chinese New Year lunch at Maximini and MATRADE. be something for you within the society, especially for

Thursday 15 March www.thebritishmalaysiansociety.org those who have lived or worked in Malaysia. If you have an interesting item of news or something else to Mark Field MP on “A Minister of State’s views on Malaysian Trade and International contribute, please send your contribution to: [email protected] Aid“ - venue TBA We wish all our members www.thebritishmalaysiansociety.org Thursday 5 April a Happy New Year Rosemary Fell and Jonathan Moffatt on Membership renewal notices for 2018 “History of the Malayan Volunteer Forces“ at and look forward to seeing will be sent out shortly. Please pay the Malaysian High Commission (a joint event you at our events in 2018 promptly. with the Malayan Volunteers Group).

BMS members’ tour of BMS panel discussion on Batterseaato Power Station Prince Charles key issues for Malaysian fascinated by Malaysia students in the UK The Malay Mail Online Thursday 31 August 2017 The British Malaysian Society panel The Yang di- discussion on key issues for Malaysian Pertuan Agong, students in the UK was held at the Sultan Muhammad V, House of Lords on 4 December 2017. with HRH Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of launch Cornwall, at Photo: Studeo M Istana Negara, Eleven members of the BMS were given a Friday 3 tour of Circus West Village, Battersea November 2017 Power Station, on 24 October 2017. In the briefing Rob Tincknell, CEO, and , Friday 3 Nov 2017: The Yang di-Pertuan Simon Murphy, Deputy CEO and CFO, Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, today granted an audience to outlined the strategy and future visiting Prince Charles and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall at development of the Battersea Power Istana Negara. Photo: BMS Station project in a highly informative During the 45-minute meeting at Bilik Seri Maharaja of Istana The Lord Bilimoria, CBE DL, gave an presentation. Negara, His Majesty also hosted a high-tea for the visitors. informative talk and morale boosting After the briefing the group was taken for The Royal couple also had a meeting with Prime Minister advice to the Malaysian students present. a tour around Circus West Village. They Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah He responded frankly to the issues raised were also invited to view the superb Mansor. by students, ranging from immigration, penthouses, with wonderful views over the The maiden visit by Their Royal Highnesses to Malaysia is to security, and internship to working in the River Thames. commemorate 60 years of diplomatic ties between Britain and UK to gain experience before returning In July Battersea Power Station was Malaysia. to Malaysia. awarded “Property Company of the Year” Kicking off his maiden visit to Malaysia on Friday 3 November Importantly he encouraged the 2017, Britain's Prince Charles expressed his fascination with the at the Evening Standard’s Business students to do community/voluntary Awards 2017, following an exciting year country's cultural heritage and racial diversity at a reception hosted work to meet and interact with local which saw Apple confirmed as a future by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah. people. office tenant in the Grade II listed building Having arrived in the Malaysian capital on 2 November, Their The sponsoring Peer was the Lord and the first residents moving into their Royal Highnesses visited a number of places in Kuala Lumpur, Laird of Artigarvan homes in the development’s first phase, Perak, Sarawak and Penang, and participated in various significant Circus West Village. events over the span of seven days from November 2 to 8. BMS 60th Merdeka After 30 years in which the central Malaysia was the longest stop on the tour for the Prince of Wales, London former industrial site lay derelict, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, over Award for composition the span of seven days from November 2 to 8. it was bought in 2012 by a consortium of The royal visit is part of a tour of Malaysia, Singapore and India Malaysian shareholders: SP Setia, Sime from October 30 to November 9. – Bernama Darby and the Employees Provident Fund http://www.thestar.com.my and https://www.nst.com.my

(EPF). Restoration of the historic building and regeneration of the wider 42 acre site formally began in 2013. Malaysia allocates RM280b for 2018 budget The Malay Mail Online Friday October 27, 2017 PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia 27 Oct - Putrajaya has allocated RM An Evening with Sir Mark 280.25 billion for the 2018 federal budget, Prime Minister Datuk Moody-Stuart - AMEU Forum Seri Najib Razak said today. Najib said that the allocation was around RM20 billion higher than KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Nov 2017 the RM260.8 billion allocated for the 2017 budget. The 3 winners of the BMS 60th Najib also announced today that the government’s income for the Merdeka award for composition were year 2018 is expected to reach RM 239.86 billion. presented with their prize money at a http://www.themalaymailonline.com small ceremony at Carcosa Seri Negara

Malaysia Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur, the venue for the

at World Travel “Jalan Merdeka” exhibition. The competition was organised by the

Market 2017 BMS and Malaysian pianist Bobby

London Chen and open to all the graduates of

Photo: AMEU Malaysia participated in his Overseas Masters Winter Piano

WTM 2017, ExCel, London, Academy. An Evening with Sir Mark Moody-Stuart was November 6-8, where the The 3 winners; Beatrice Khor, Jing the Association of Malaysian Economic country joined almost . Xun Kuan and Eng Shen Ching Undergraduates’ (AMEU) inaugural event in its Distinguished Speaker Series with the aim 5,000 exhibitors and 51,000 delegates for what remains one 'Shensation’; performed their winning of the travel industry’s most important global gatherings. of providing an opportunity for members of pieces which were inspired by AMEU to listen to distinguished industry Photo: BMS Malaysian folk tunes. leaders on various socio-economic topics of BMS Chairman, Dato’ Anthony interest. Cooper, kindly hosted the event with The event featured Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, Some of the guests at the BMS Annual Deputy Chair, Zehan Albakri. former Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell, a The event was attended by friends and director of Saudi Aramco and a member of the Dinner at the Inner Temple, London, families of the graduates and Malaysia AMEU International Advisory Council as well as being the BMS President. on Tuesday 31 British Society Secretary Chris Syer. The objective of the specific event was to October 2017. A special thank you to Tunku Abidin raise awareness in business ethics and its Photo: Studeo M and Mr K K Tan of the Asian Heritage enormous impact on society. Museum for arranging the venue and Sir Mark spoke on various issues involving sponsoring the refreshments.

the impact of the resource curse in the development of countries and sustainability G uests at the BMS Chairman’s between corporations and the government. BMS now has Facebook and Twitter, Christmas welcome news for BMS members and It was followed by a Q&A session and a book Reception and signing session for Sir Mark’s book titled: friends. Now social media users can click celebration of the on to BMS Facebook and Twitter. “Responsible Leadership: Lessons from the 60th year of Front Line of Sustainability and Ethics”. Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebritishma Merdeka, at the laysiansociety1983/ It was attended by around 40 people, and held House of Lords, on Twitter: @BritishMsianSoc at UCL on 19 November 2017. 18 December 2017

line Photo: BMS

Produced and edited by The British Malaysian Society www.thebritishmalaysiansociety.org