President Tony Tan visits University of Malaya

SINGAPORE - President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Mrs Mary Tan visited the University of Malaya (UM) on the second day of President’s State Visit to Malaysia.

This visit had special significance as UM and National University of Singapore (NUS), of which Mr Tan is Chancellor, share historical roots and longstanding ties.

UM Vice-Chancellor Tan Sri Dr Gauth Jasmon briefed Mr Tan on UM’s developmental plans. Tan Sri Dr Gauth Jasmon also outlined to President the existing collaboration between UM and its international partners, including research centres in NUS and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

President Tony Tan and Mrs Tan were also hosted to a visit to the PERMATA Negara Nursery in Putrajaya by Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, Patron of PERMATA Negara. The PERMATA Negara Nurseries were established to provide children from low-income families with quality early childhood care and education. Mr and Mrs Tan also visited the Islamic Arts Museum of Malaysia, the largest museum of Islamic art in Southeast Asia.

In the evening, Singapore’s High Commissioner Ong Keng Yong hosted a reception for the president to meet with the Singapore community living in Kuala Lumpur. During the reception, Mr Tan noted that the Singaporean community was yet another example of the close people-to-people links that form the foundation of bilateral relations between Singapore and Malaysia.

President Tan and Mrs Tan are on their first state visit to Malaysia from September 18 to 20.

candicec@sph.com.sg