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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-12-02 Daily Xml
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MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:48): My question is to the Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Will the minister inform the chamber of a recent significant event at the University of Adelaide in honour of one of its most distinguished graduates?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:48): On Saturday 22 November, among many distinguished guests, the Lieutenant-Governor Mr Hieu Van Le and I were fortunate to attend the naming ceremony of the Taib Mahmud Chief Minister of Sarawak Court at Adelaide University. Also present on the day were Mrs Marjorie Jackson-Nelson (a former governor of South Australia), the Hon. Dean Brown (a former premier of South Australia), and Sir Eric Neal (the Chancellor of Flinders University and Chair of the Road Safety Advisory Council).

The University of Adelaide has named a plaza on North Terrace in honour of one of its most distinguished graduates and long-time benefactor, the Chief Minister of Sarawak, the Right Honourable Pehin Sri Dr Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud AO. I am told that the chief minister came to the University of Adelaide as one of the Malaysian Colombo Plan scholars in the late 1950s and graduated with a law degree in 1961. After graduation, the chief minister worked for a year as an associate to Mayo J, a judge of the Supreme Court, before returning to Malaysia.

The chief minister went on to enter politics at a young age and since then has had a tremendous influence on the development of Sarawak and Malaysia during the decades of service to his country. It is important to note that throughout his long and distinguished career the chief minister has never forgotten his association with the University of Adelaide. Indeed, in 1987 the chief minister helped refurbish the university's law school and established the Australian Centre for Environmental Law.

Since this time his personal generosity continues in many ways. Especially important is the way in which the chief minister has continued to support the link between South Australia and Malaysia. There are more than 800 international students from Malaysia currently studying at the University of Adelaide, and 160 domestic students were born in Malaysia. Not surprisingly, thousands of graduates who hail from the University of Adelaide now live and work in Malaysia. The chief minister's commitment to the university has been integral to the strong links that have been established. In 2006 a memorandum of understanding with the state government and Sarawak was signed. This MOU is built on an agreement to further research collaboration, provide graduate scholarships and promote student exchange.

I am pleased to inform the chamber that currently 10 post-graduate research students are studying at the University of Adelaide as part of the MOU. The chief minister, in his role as Chairman of the Malaysia/Australia Foundation, and in other ways has always strived to promote goodwill and mutual understanding between our two governments and our two states. His priority is the importance of education and providing opportunities for young people. The state government and the University of Adelaide are pleased to recognise the chief minister's significant contribution towards providing education opportunities.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Professor James McWha, was pleased to be able to acknowledge and show appreciation for the support the chief minister has provided to the university over the years. On behalf of the government, I congratulate both the chief minister and his wife, Datuk Amar Laila Taib (a proud South Australian), who are special friends of our state. On behalf of the government I also congratulate the University of Adelaide in its naming of Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister, Sarawak Court. I am sure that the chamber joins me in acknowledging these fine achievements.

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