NEWCASTLE ALUMNI UK MEETS UP WITH MALAYSIA MEMBERS MEET UP

31st. October 2010

Vice Chancellor of Newcastle University, Professor Chris Brink, addressing Newcastle Alumni members in Malaysia

Newcastle University Alumni Association from Newcastle held their Annual reception at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur last night.

More than 50 former graduates Newcastle University attended this informal reception to listen to the latest development of Newcastle University.

The Vice Chancellor of Newcastle University, Professor Chris Brink, gave a brief introduction and development of our university in Newcastle.

" Our vision is of Newcastle as a civic university with a global reputation for academic excellence."

Also, Newcastle University is interested in increasing the University foot print around the world. This is done by setting up long term partnerships in selected countries around the world.

One such long term investment in Malaysia is the setting up of the Newcastle University Medical Campus (Numed) at Iskandar at Johor Baru, Johor. The new campus is being constructed and will be handed over by the developer to the University in 6 months time. The Numed campus should be ready by September 2011.

Newcastle University Alumni in Malaysia were impressed with the overall vision of their former Alma mater and the setting up of the Numed campus. It is hoped that with the opening of the Numed campus next year, alumni members should be invited to attend this official opening in Johor.

Another observation which a former alumni member highlighted to the Vice Chancellor was that no distinguished Newcastle Alumni member in Malaysia was invited to present a short speech. It was also not done last year.

If I remember correctly, some years back, a distinguished alumni member had the opportunity to address the reception. By doing so, we can hear about development of Newcastle University Alumni in Malaysia rather than just about the development of the University only.

Moreover, some members have suggested that Newcastle University Alumni Association should organise a day tour for her alumni members to attend this historic occasion. A fully airconditioned bus can be hired to bring alumni members from Kuala Lumpur to Johor so that we can witness the opening of Numed campus.

Instead of having the annual reception in Kuala Lumpur as being done now, in 2011 the reception should be carried out in grander style such as having it in the brand new campus.

Some food for thought.

NEWCASTLE ALUMNI MALAYSIA MEMBERS MEET UP AT TAWAU, SABAH.

16th. October 2010

Su May, Kang, William and Valerie at Tawau, Sabah.

Crystal Clear water with live corals beneath

Former Newcastle University graduates can be found all over Malaysia. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Tawau, Sabah for the first time with my wife.

Flying there by AirAsia last Monday, my wife and I was met up by my University mate, William Yu and his wife, Valerie. William was my University mate the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering from 1976 to 1979.

Sipadan Island over the horizon

As I pursued my profession particularly focused on rubber processing and rubber agro-practices in Peninsular Malaysia, William became a planter taking care of his father's cocoa plantation in Tawau, Sabah. The smallholding later switched to a oil palm plantation which was easier to manage and less prone to disease in comparison to the management of a cocoa plantation.

Former Newcastle Uni graduates :Ms Chai and William Yu

We met up over last week and being my first visit to Tawau, Sabah, it is interesting to see oil palm plantations over in Tawau, Kudat and Semporna. Besides that, all four of us took a short trip to the Mabul-Sipadan Tourist resort to see the corals and islands. Beautiful beaches and clear water around the islands.

Besides meeting up with William, I had the opportunity to meet up with another Newcastle University alumni, Ms Chai who is running an agro bioscience company in Tawau that formulates and supplies fertilizers, agro chemicals etc. with her husband.

Besides, Tawau, Newcastle alumni graduates are also found in Kota Kinabalu eg. Dr. K S Lim

Certainly, if time and interests prevail, it will be a wonderful idea that former Newcastle Uni Alumni members can gather in Tawau for a short trip both for seafood, snorkeling or diving for more adventureous members.