` The British Malaysian Society Newsletter – Summer 2017 SAVE THE DATE BMS AGM and President’s Reception The British Malaysian Society held its We have three special events later this year, the th Annual General Meeting at the 60 Merdeka, so please save the following Travellers Club, Pall Mall, London, dates: on Thursday 15 June. About 40 Tuesday 3 October members and guests attended. The President, Sir Mark Moody- Merdeka Concert, a musical evening by Stuart, thanked the Chairman and the Malaysian performers to celebrate 60 years of Executive Committee for their support independence. An optional supper following the and service to the Society. He also performance will be available. commended the Society’s move to Concert at St Lawrence Jewry, 6.00pm - 8.00pm involve more students and fully supported the Committee’s efforts to Supper at the Guildhall Club, London, 8.30pm explore all avenues in creating (From left): Peter Farrar (Hon Treasurer), effective student engagement. Tuesday 31 October Dato’ Anthony Cooper (Chairman) and The President’s reception followed Annual Dinner at the Inner Temple Dr Euvian Tan (Hon Secretary) the AGM. 7.00pm – 10.30pm Monday 18 December Chairman’s Christmas Reception Chairman’s report House of Lords The Chairman said 2016 had been an The Chairman, Anthony Cooper, 6.30pm – 8.30pm to the AGM. active year during which the BMS had welcomed all attendees There will be a charge for each of these events. held 14 events – two topical, three on business matters, four on education and More details are on our website and booking will culture, and five other events including the open after notices have been sent out a few weeks annual dinner. Members were also invited before the event. to other events by affiliated organisations and Malaysian organisations including the Malaysian High Commissioner, MIDA and MATRADE. Islamic Finance: what it means & the He highlighted the good relationship that opportunities for the UK post-Brexit had been established with the Malaysian High Commission and especially the High The BMS and Institute of Directors (IoD) City of Commissioner, Dato’ Ahmad Rasidi London Branch jointly held a talk “Islamic Finance: Hazizi, who hosted two events in 2016. what it means & the opportunities for the UK post- New honorary life members Dato’ Neville Green He noted 2016 also saw an increase in Brexit " at the premises of PwC on Wednesday 5 (left) and Dr John Breakell (right) with Sir Mark membership, especially younger members. April. Moody -Stuart He said two key areas of focus for the Society this year were corporate The discussion explored the power and potential of He was also pleased to see Puan Sri Liz membership and student engagement. Islamic Finance including problems that persist that Moggie (wife of TNB Chairman Tan Sri He also announced the agreement and prevent the industry growing to the next level Leo Moggie) and Charles Humfrey, signing of an MOU with the British CMG, (a former British ambassador to Malaysian Chamber of Commerce Indonesia and current Chairman of the (BMCC). The reciprocal arrangement Anglo Indonesian Society). aims to increase the opportunities and The Chairman announced new honorary benefits of members of both the BMCC life membership for Dato’ Neville Green and and BMS towards the common objective Dr John Breakell for their invaluable service of fostering stronger relations between the UK and Malaysia. and support to the Society over many years. Continued on Page 2, column 4 FORTHCOMING BMS EVENTS Lord Sheikh of Cornhill addressing attendees Thursday 27 July Seated from left: M Iqbal Asria CBE, Andrew Gosnay, OTHER EVENTS. Members will be Dato' M. Faiz Azmi and David Stringer-Lamarre Talk by Prof Terence Gomez, of the notified of other events to which they University of Malaya will be invited, including those Dato' Anthony Cooper, BMS Chairman, gave a “The Government’s business: Politics, organised by My-UK and Malaysian short welcome speech. policies and the corporate sector in Malaysia” Govt bodies, including MIDA and Speakers included: Coventry University London MATRADE. Members will be advised Lord Sheikh of Cornhill, Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Islamic Finance; 6.00pm to 8.30pm of full details, and how to book/pay, by Dato' M. Faiz Azmi, Chairman of PwC Malaysia flyers sent out nearer the date. and Global lead for PwC on Islamic Finance; Wednesday 27 September www.thebritishmalaysiansociety.org Andrew Gosnay, Head of Banking and Finance, Talk by HE Vicki Treadell, British High Laytons Solicitors LLP; Commissioner to Malaysia. M Iqbal Asria CBE, Islamic Finance expert and Inner Temple, London, The British Malaysian Special Advisor on business and economic affairs to 6.00pm to 8.30pm Society wishes all our the Muslim Council of Britain. Tuesday 3 October members and friends After the discussion there was a vote of thanks by Martin Barrow, Director of Matheson & Co and Merdeka Concert ‘Selamat Hari Raya’ St Lawrence Jewry, London, 6.00pm to Executive Committee member of BMS. 8.00pm, followed by optional late supper at (Eid Mubarak) The evening was kindly hosted by PwC 8.30pm at the Guildhall Club Memorandum of Understanding Sultan Muhammad V installed as 15th Continued from Page 1 Chairman’s Report betweenato The British Malaysian Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) The Chairman welcomed new Chamber of Commerce and The The Malay Mail Online Monday April 24, 2017 corporate member, Coventry University British Malaysian Society Group, whose Head of Alumni and External Relations Coventry University London, Carole Still, was present The British Malaysian Chamber of He said student engagement efforts are led by the Deputy Chair and the Commerce (“BMCC”) and The British Malaysian Society (“BMS”) have Secretary to establish closer relationship with students and universities, adding concluded an agreement to establish discussions were underway with the reciprocal rights with a view to increasing Association of Malaysian Economics thelaunch opportunities and benefits of members Undergraduates (AMEU) to develop a of both the BMCC and BMS. new arrangement. Further opportunities This arrangement was initially proposed are also being explored with other by Dato’ Anthony Cooper, BMS student organisations, he said. The Chairman announced the Chairman , in March and accepted by appointment of Mei Sim Lai as a second Aurelia Silva, Executive Director of the Sultan Muhammad V takes the oath of installation, pledging to perform his duties as Malaysia's 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong. ― Bernama pic Deputy Chair who would succeed him BMCC , on behalf of the BMCC Board of as Chairman at next year’s AGM. He Directors later that month. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - “Daulat Tuanku (Long Live the also noted the retirement of three The purpose of this proposal is to King)!” Sultan Muhammad V was installed as the 15th Yang di- Executive Committee members (Dr broaden the business and social Pertuan Agong (King) at Istana Negara here today, for the next John Breakell, Julian Metcalfe and Dato Seri Johan Raslan) and thanked them community of BMCC and BMS members five years. towards the common aim of fostering for their services and support to the The installation ceremony, steeped in Royal Malay customs, Society. stronger relations between the UK and marked the formal commencement of his tenure as the Supreme Members were reminded of BMS’ Malaysia Head of the Federation which also reflects the stature of upcoming events including the Eid The arrangement allows members of the Constitutional Monarchy practised in the country. dinner, a talk on the palm oil industry BMS (either visiting or based in Malaysia is one of 43 countries in the world that practice and HE Vicki Treadell’s talk. The Malaysia) to attend events hosted by the constitutional monarchy, with the rotation system in selecting a Chairman also highlighted three key events in the autumn: Merdeka Concert BMCC in Kuala Lumpur and allows King being the only one of its kind in the world. at St Lawrence Jewry, Annual Dinner at members of the BMCC (either visiting or The sound of trumpets and the beating of drums by the Inner Temple and Christmas Reception based in the UK) to attend events hosted Gendang Besar D’Raja Kelantan band reverberated in the at House of Lords by the BMS in London. Balairong Seri (Throne Hall) of the national palace to the tune of The Chairman concluded by thanking Paid events organised by the BMCC and “Raja Bertabal” as soon as Sultan Muhammad V took his Oath of the President, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart BMS will remain chargeable with the Installation. and the Vice Presidents, Sir David costs borne by the members attending. This was then followed by the firing of a 21-gun salute and the Greenaway and Lord Powell for their Free -to-attend events hosted by the tremendous support to the Society. He playing of the national anthem “Negaraku” by the Royal noted Sir David’s retirement as BMCC and BMS are non-chargeable to Malaysian Air Force band. Chairman of the Russell Group of the members but numbers may be limited Some 800 guests witnessed the colourful and glorious Universities in September 2017. He also if capacity is limited. ceremony, including the Malay rulers and their consorts; the thanked members of the Executive The BMCC and BMS will exchange representatives of the Malay rulers; the Yang Di-Pertuan Negeri; Committee. marketing materials when needed to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor; and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Treasurer’s Report promote each other’s events Accounts for 2016 have been signed Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and wife, Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis. Also present were cabinet ministers, heads of government and loaded onto the website. 2016 was a departments and foreign diplomats.