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OLLSCOIL na hÉIREANN
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND
Chancellor, Your Majesties, Lord Mayor, Ministers, Ambassadors, Members of the University and Guests, There have been many ties between Ireland and Malaysia over recent centuries and this visit by His Majesty is a fitting testament to the depth of our bonds. Perhaps the most remarkable has been the exponential growth in trade between us in the past decade. Exports to Malaysia climbed to almost 2 billion euros in 2001, making Malaysia Ireland's 3rd most important non-European market. However, it is in the field of education that our relationship has been deepest and long-standing. Since the establishment of the first school in 1852, the most sustained Irish contribution was made by generations of nuns and brothers who established schools and hospitals throughout Malaysia. Countless Malaysians recall, fondly, their years in schools staffed by Irish members of the La Salle Order, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Mill Hill Fathers and the Order of the Holy Infant Jesus. The institutions they founded empowered the young people of Malaysia, helped unlock their talents and provided the opportunities through which their lives would be fulfilled. The names of some Irishmen who made notable contributions to Malaysian culture stand out. William Marsden wrote a Malay grammar and dictionary in the early years of the 19th century. In the 1930s, William Linehan, published a history of the State of Pahang. In more recent times, Mubin Shephard was a co-founder of the National Museum of Malaysia and Victor Hutson helped establish the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur. Just like his father before him, His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong
X11 is deeply respected by the people of Malaysia. He bears with distinction
the responsibilities of his high office and he is admired for his modesty
and humility. He has made a point of reaching out to all Malaysians in
important areas of their daily life. On 30th October 1960, he was conferred the title of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince of Perlis. Following the tradition of most royal houses, he underwent the officer cadet course at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Upon completing his training, he returned to Malaysia and joined the Ministry of Defence as Second Lieutenant in the Malaysian Reconnaissance Corps. He first served in Pahang, followed by a transfer to Sabah in 1966, and to Sarawak in 1967. In 1969 he resigned from the army to concentrate on affairs of state in Perlis. His Majesty was officially proclaimed the seventh Raja of Perlis on 17th April 2000, the day after the death of his father. He was also appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the Malaysian Royal Rangers. In December 2001, he took the oath as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. In his official role he carries out his duties with complete dignity and décorum, upholding the precept that "only a just ruler enters paradise". Within a few weeks of his taking office, he celebrated Aidil Fitri (the end of the fasting month of Ramadan) in December 2001, with the people in Johor Baru. He also sent off the first batch of pilgrims to Mecca. Recognising the multi-cultural nature of Malaysia, he celebrated Chinese New Year with Chinese Malaysians in Ipoh in February 2002. His Majesty takes great interest in the education of his people. In 1986, he was elected Chairman of the Tuanku Syed Putra Foundation, an organisation formed to assist students in Perlis to further their studies in institutions of higher learning, both locally and abroad. He is Chancellor of the University of Technology MARA, which has 93,000 students in 14 campuses across Malaysia In honouring His Majesty today we also pay tribute to the achievements of Malaysia and its recognition of the vital importance of education to economic and social development. Although a young country, formed in 1957, Malaysia is ambitious. It has set the formidable target of achieving first world economic status by 2020 and has made many sacrifices to develop world-class communications and technological infrastructure. Above all, it is making extra-ordinary investment in new schools, colleges and universities. While developing this domestic capacity it has also recognised the critical importance of educating its brightest students, albeit at enormous expense, at the best universities internationally. Here, Ireland has played a prominent role. While many Irish citizens have devoted their lives to teaching in Malaysia, Ireland has also been a favoured destination for Malaysians wishing to further their education in an English-speaking environment overseas, predominantly in the study of Medicine. At present, there are over 1000 Malaysians in Irish universities and colleges. Our two countries have recently signed a Memorandum on Co-operation in the Field of Education which sets the scene for future alliances and may expand exchanges in other disciplines such as Engineering and Information Technologies. Attendance at Irish universities has given generations of Malaysians a lifelong connection with Ireland and they have earned a deserved reputation, in Ireland, as excellent students. We are grateful to the Malaysian Government for entrusting so many young Malaysians to our Universities and Colleges. I am sure that our students from Malaysia would wish to be associated with this celebration here today, and its symbolic significance of highlighting the important educational developments between our two countries. Malaysian students are first-class ambassadors for their homeland and their presence enriches our own increasingly multi-ethnic society. UCC is particularly pleased that His Majesty has decided to include a
visit to Cork in the itinerary of his State Visit, for the conferment
of this honorary degree by the National University of Ireland.
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