SEAMEC President's Official Visits to SEAMEO Units 1986

During the period from April until July 1986, H E Pehin Dato Haji Abdul Aziz Umar, then SEAMEC President and Minister of Education and Health, Brunei Darussalam, toured the SEAMEO units in Singapore (20-22 April), Indonesia (16-18 June), Malaysia (24-26 June) and the Philippines (27-29 July).

In all the Member Countries visited, the SEAMEC President made courtesy calls on the Ministers of Education.  Thus, in Singapore, the SEAMEC President called on H E Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Minister for Education, and H E Dr Tay Eng Soon, Minister of State (Education); in Indonesia, on H E Professor Dr Fuad Hassan, Minister of Education and Culture; in Malaysia, on H E  Mr Anwar Ibrahim, Minister of Education and H E Datuk Dr Sulaiman Haji Daud, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture; and in the Philippines, on H E Dr Lourdes R Quisumbing, Minister of Education, Culture and Sports.

The SEAMEO unit in Singapore, the Regional Language Centre, had the honour of having the SEAMEC President inaugurate the Regional Seminar on Patterns of Classroom Interaction in Southeast Asia on 21 April 1986.  The SEAMEC President afterwards met with the Centre's professional and administrative staff and toured the Centre's facilities.

In Indonesia, the highlight of the visit was the inauguration by the SEAMEC President of the Symposium on Conservation and Management of Endangered Plants and Animals at BIOTROP on 18 June.  In his address, the SEAMEC President noted that in many parts of the world, including the SEAMEO region, disturbance and damage to the flora and fauna were brought about not only by biological and ecological factors but by man's wanton exploitation, as well.  He praised the efforts of BIOTROP for providing a forum for specialists in the conservation and management of endangered species to discuss the achievements, on-going studies and programmes and the direction of future work in the area.

Also visited by the SEAMEC President in Indonesia were SPAFA Sub-Centre and TROPMED National Centre.

In Malaysia, the  SEAMEC President visited RECSAM, TROPMED National Centre, the Agricultural University of Malaysia and the University of Science in Penang.  During his RECSAM visit, the SEAMEC President addressed the participants on the occasion of the Presentation of Certificates Ceremony.  In his address, he laid emphasis on the important role of science and technology in the development of nations and reminded the participants of their role and responsibility in the development of human resources when they return to their respective countries.

The visit of the SEAMEC President to the Philippines coincided with the start of the International Conference on Technology, jointly sponsored by INNOTECH, the University of South Carolina and the Southern Illinois University.   The SEAMEC President officiated at its Opening Ceremony.  At a separate ceremony, he also presented a testimonial plaque to Dr Liceria B. Soriano, who retired as INNOTECH Director after 10 years of dedicated service as the Centre's director.

Visits were likewise made to the SEAMEO Centres and Projects in the Philippines, namely, SEARCA, INNOTECH, SPAFA Sub-Centres and TROPMED National Centre.

SEAMEO expresses its gratitude to his Excellency for his time and the words of wisdom and encouragement he gave to all SEAMEO officials and programme participants at the units he visited.

On 21 October 1986, the Government of Brunei Darussalam instituted a Cabinet reshuffle.  H E Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib was appointed Minister of Education and took over as SEAMEC President.  A programme of visit to the SEAMEO units in Thailand was prepared for early November.  Unfortunately, his Excellency had to cancel the planned visit owing to unforeseen circumstances.   Nevertheless, it is hoped that his Excellency would still be able to visit the SEAMEO units in the future.