62 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP RENEWED

CYBERJAYA (Malaysia), Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Sixty-two years of friendship was
renewed when 21 former students, including former Malaysian prime minister Dr
Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah, from the Class of 1947 of the
former King Edward VII Medical College met for a four-day, three-night retreat
from Tuesday.

The retreat began early Tuesday with the old students of the college, now
known as the National University of Singapore, converging at the Cyberview Lodge
here, Malaysia's model intelligent city in Multimedia Super Corridor, on the
outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

Most of them came from Malaysia and Singapore and made their journey to
Cyberjaya despite their age, just to renew ties with their classmates of 62
years ago. One who is residing in Toronto, Canada came for the retreat with
assistance from his daughter.

On Tuesday, the class of '47 , including Dr Mahathir, 84, and Dr Siti
Hasmah, 83, went on a tour of Cyberjaya, visited the Multimedia University and
took a stroll in Putrajaya, the federal administrative centre.

They later had a small dinner at the Cyberview Lodge. The group will go on
a boat tour in Putrajaya, visit the Wetlands and have another dinner at Dr
Mahathir's residence in Cyberjaya Wednesday.

The entire retreat is being organised and sponsored by Mustapha Kamil Abu
Bakar, the executive chairman of MK Land Holdings Bhd and EMKAY Group, companies
involved in development of among other things, residential and commercial
buildings and resorts.

Mustapha also attended the dinner Tuesday night and is expected to be with
the class of '47 until the end of the retreat on Thursday.

In her welcome speech, Dr Siti Hasmah said she was glad to renew ties with
her classmates, who studied medicine in the college over 60 years ago.

"It is nice to meet old friends...watch their children all grown up. This is
very exciting for all of us," he said.
-- BERNAMA