ID :
103361
Fri, 01/29/2010 - 13:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/103361
The shortlink copeid
AUSTRALIAN ENVOY BIDS FAREWELL WITH FOND MEMORIES
By Ahmad Zukiman Zain
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- With her tour of duty in Malaysia coming
to an end, Australian High Commissioner Penny Williams can reflect with
satisfaction on the strong, blossoming ties between the two countries.
Spanning trade, investment, education, defence and the socio-cultural
spectrum, the bilateral bond had taken a new dimension to even benefit a third
country.
"I'm extremely happy with what the two governments have achieved...happy
with what we've done with Afghanistan and I think the ground is set for us to do
more cooperation," said Williams who returns to Canberra at the end of March
after a three-year stint.
Propelled by their long-standing relations in education, particularly in
teacher training, Australia and Malaysia jointly brought some 30 teachers from
Afghanistan for training here. Another 30 will be trained in the second round
of the Malaysia-Australia Education Project for Afghanistan (MAEPA).
"I'm also very pleased that we have expanded the education relationship to
include schools, not just universities," Williams said in an interview at the
high commission in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, a stone's throw away from the iconic
Petronas Twin Towers.
Twelve Malaysian and Australian schools have been chosen for a sister school
arrangement with the number expected to increase to 24.
She spoke passionately about her desire to see more Australians studying in
Malaysia while encouraging Malaysians to study in Australia.
Just two days ago, Williams hosted a reception for a group of 17 Malaysian
scholars and professionals who received scholarships to pursue study and
professional development in Australia this year.
"Education has always been at the heart of the Australia-Malaysia bilateral
relationship.
"Through education, Malaysians and Australians have come to know each other
better and have created binding ties between our two communities, she added.
Last year, some 260 Australians took the opportunity to come to Malaysia to
undertake a semester of study, an internship or short-term work experience.
A total of 22,933 Malaysian students are enrolled in education in Australia.
The major fields of study continue to be management and commerce,
engineering and health.
"Another strong part of the bilateral relations is defence cooperation and
we have expanded the cooperation to include a third country.
"Towards the end of last year, Australia and Malaysia provided peacekeeping
training to Papua New Guinea and that will continue with other countries,"
Williams said.
She also singled out sports as an area where bilateral cooperation is set
to expand.
On tourism, she said better connectivity in the increasing number of flights
between Australia and Malaysia had led to the upsurge in the number of visitors.
"In 2009, there wwere over half a million Australians visiting Malaysia.
That's a huge number."
According to the high commission, 533,382 Australians visited Malaysia last
year, up 24.9 per cent from 427,076 in 2008.
This has been a steady increase from 320,363 in (2007), 277,125 (2006) and
265,346 (2005).
As for Malaysian visitors to Australia, the figure as of last November was
186,900.
In 2008, a total of 171,000 Malaysians visited Australia, 159,500 (2007),
150,300 (2006) and 165,900 (2005).
Williams urged Malaysians to apply for funding from the Australian-Malaysia
Institute (AMI) to carry out programmes that would encourage people-to-people
understanding.
"They particularly focus on cultural link, sports link, public policy,
education...the good news is there is money available and we really need to use
it to expand the people-to-people link," she said.
The new board is expected to visit Malaysia next month.
Asked about her stay here, she said: "It's been great, a fantastic posting,
in terms of relationship -- professional and personal."
Prior to her appointment as High Commissioner to Malaysia, she was First
Assistant Secretary, Corporate Management Division at the Australian Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade after serving as Counsellor in Santiago (1997-2000)
and First Secretary in Damascus (1992-94).
"It's always a privilege to be the representative of your country," said
Williams, who also speaks Arabic and Spanish.
"The good thing is that I've only had positive experience about Malaysia."
She said that among her memorable experiences was being part of the
discussions between the Australian and Malaysian prime ministers.
"Our prime minister (Kevin Rudd) made a short visit last year after Datuk
Seri Najib Tun Razak became prime minister to personally congratulate him on his
appointment.
"He had made a longer visit the previous year where he held talks with
(then) prime minister (Tun) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi," she said.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- With her tour of duty in Malaysia coming
to an end, Australian High Commissioner Penny Williams can reflect with
satisfaction on the strong, blossoming ties between the two countries.
Spanning trade, investment, education, defence and the socio-cultural
spectrum, the bilateral bond had taken a new dimension to even benefit a third
country.
"I'm extremely happy with what the two governments have achieved...happy
with what we've done with Afghanistan and I think the ground is set for us to do
more cooperation," said Williams who returns to Canberra at the end of March
after a three-year stint.
Propelled by their long-standing relations in education, particularly in
teacher training, Australia and Malaysia jointly brought some 30 teachers from
Afghanistan for training here. Another 30 will be trained in the second round
of the Malaysia-Australia Education Project for Afghanistan (MAEPA).
"I'm also very pleased that we have expanded the education relationship to
include schools, not just universities," Williams said in an interview at the
high commission in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, a stone's throw away from the iconic
Petronas Twin Towers.
Twelve Malaysian and Australian schools have been chosen for a sister school
arrangement with the number expected to increase to 24.
She spoke passionately about her desire to see more Australians studying in
Malaysia while encouraging Malaysians to study in Australia.
Just two days ago, Williams hosted a reception for a group of 17 Malaysian
scholars and professionals who received scholarships to pursue study and
professional development in Australia this year.
"Education has always been at the heart of the Australia-Malaysia bilateral
relationship.
"Through education, Malaysians and Australians have come to know each other
better and have created binding ties between our two communities, she added.
Last year, some 260 Australians took the opportunity to come to Malaysia to
undertake a semester of study, an internship or short-term work experience.
A total of 22,933 Malaysian students are enrolled in education in Australia.
The major fields of study continue to be management and commerce,
engineering and health.
"Another strong part of the bilateral relations is defence cooperation and
we have expanded the cooperation to include a third country.
"Towards the end of last year, Australia and Malaysia provided peacekeeping
training to Papua New Guinea and that will continue with other countries,"
Williams said.
She also singled out sports as an area where bilateral cooperation is set
to expand.
On tourism, she said better connectivity in the increasing number of flights
between Australia and Malaysia had led to the upsurge in the number of visitors.
"In 2009, there wwere over half a million Australians visiting Malaysia.
That's a huge number."
According to the high commission, 533,382 Australians visited Malaysia last
year, up 24.9 per cent from 427,076 in 2008.
This has been a steady increase from 320,363 in (2007), 277,125 (2006) and
265,346 (2005).
As for Malaysian visitors to Australia, the figure as of last November was
186,900.
In 2008, a total of 171,000 Malaysians visited Australia, 159,500 (2007),
150,300 (2006) and 165,900 (2005).
Williams urged Malaysians to apply for funding from the Australian-Malaysia
Institute (AMI) to carry out programmes that would encourage people-to-people
understanding.
"They particularly focus on cultural link, sports link, public policy,
education...the good news is there is money available and we really need to use
it to expand the people-to-people link," she said.
The new board is expected to visit Malaysia next month.
Asked about her stay here, she said: "It's been great, a fantastic posting,
in terms of relationship -- professional and personal."
Prior to her appointment as High Commissioner to Malaysia, she was First
Assistant Secretary, Corporate Management Division at the Australian Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade after serving as Counsellor in Santiago (1997-2000)
and First Secretary in Damascus (1992-94).
"It's always a privilege to be the representative of your country," said
Williams, who also speaks Arabic and Spanish.
"The good thing is that I've only had positive experience about Malaysia."
She said that among her memorable experiences was being part of the
discussions between the Australian and Malaysian prime ministers.
"Our prime minister (Kevin Rudd) made a short visit last year after Datuk
Seri Najib Tun Razak became prime minister to personally congratulate him on his
appointment.
"He had made a longer visit the previous year where he held talks with
(then) prime minister (Tun) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi," she said.
-- BERNAMA
