Governor of Victoria visits Malaysia

The Governor of Victoria, His Excellency the Honourable Alex Chernov AC QC, visited Malaysia recently and during his visit met with various Malaysians with a strong Victorian bond – they were graduates from various Victorian universities in Australia. The Victorian Connection alumni business reception was hosted by the Victorian Commissioner for South East Asia, Mr Tim Dillon on Tuesday, 1 October 2013 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Due to a ministerial call in Bangkok, Thailand, Mr Dillon unfortunately, was unable to attend the event. Representing Mr Dillon was Ms Celia Yeo the Education Services Director, SEA, at the Victorian Government Business Office in Kuala Lumpur.

The event was attended by prominent Malaysians who are members of The Victorian Connection – a networking group that connects professional Victorian expatriates, repatriates, alumni and those interested in doing business with Victoria, Australia, who are located in Malaysia. Also in attendance was His Excellency Mr Miles Kupa, the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ms Susan Kahwati, Senior Trade Commissioner, Australian Trade Commission Kuala Lumpur, Dato Dr Mohamad Rameez bin Yahaya, Consul General Malaysia to the State of Victoria and from The MAAC, the President, Ms Pat PW Yeoh and Vice President of Alumni Relations, Mr Adrian Ong.

The event was filled with Melbournian spirit – speeches from the Governor, who also is a University of Melbourne graduate together with his wife, Mrs Elizabeth Chernov. Not surprisingly, there was a loud cheer from University of Melbourne alumni in attendance, upon hearing this and later during His Excellency Mr Miles Kupa’s speech, when he proudly stated that he is also a proud University of Melbourne graduate. Dato Rameez also took to the podium albeit being in Malaysia for a vacation. He said that there are about 90,000 Malaysians in Melbourne of which approximately 7,000 are Malaysian students. He welcomes everyone travelling to Melbourne to visit his office in St Kilda Road.

Aside from speeches, Ms Yeo put guest to the test with a quiz of images of Victoria’s infamous landmarks. Guests were then introduced to the Australian General Manager of Intercontinental Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Mr Phil Riley. The Hotel served gastronomic food and wine from Victoria’s finest. “I don’t think many Melbournian have the opportunity to meet their Governor in person. It’s, therefore, such a privilege to meet him here in Kuala Lumpur,” said Ms Yeoh, President of The MAAC.