H.E. Datuk Dr Sulaiman Haji Daud

Official Tours of SEAMEO Units by the President of SEAMEC 1983

H.E. Datuk Dr Sulaiman Haji Daud, Minister of Education, Malaysia, visited the various SEAMEO Units in the region in his capacity as President of SEAMEC for 1983. The visits were made in separate journeys because of his heavy schedule of duties in his home country.

During 17-19 May 1983 his Excellency visited the SEAMEO Units located in the Philippines, where he also met with H.E. Dr Onofre D Corpuz, then Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, Philippines. His visit to the Philippines was so scheduled as to coincide with the inauguration ceremony of the INNOTECH buildings completed with the support of the Government of the Philippines and funds from the Government of Japan. The dignitaries who officiated at the Ceremony were the Prime Minister of the Republic of the Philippines, the Ambassador of Japan in Manila, the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports of the Philippines, and H. E. Datuk Dr Sulaiman Haji Daud, Minister of education Malaysia, who spoke in the capacity of the President of SEAMEC. His Excellency expressed appreciation to all those who had contributed to the success of INNOTECH. He mentioned in particular the members of the Council; the Member Countries, Associate members and non-member donor governments, agencies and organizations; the Government of the Philippines as the host of INNOTECH, the Government of Japan; the Governing Board members of INNOTECH; the current as well as the previous Director of INNOTECH, and the staff of INNOTECH. He acknowledged the past achievements of INNOTECH and expressed confidence in INNOTECH for the future.

Other SEAMEO Units visited in the Philippines include SEARCA in Los Banos, SPAFA Sub-Centre for Pre-History at the National Museum in Manila and TROPMED National Centre of the Philippines at the Institute of Public Health, University of the Philippines System, Manila.

During 15-17 September 1983 his Excellency visited the SEAMEO Units located in Thailand, namely the SPAFA Co-ordinating Unit and the SPAFA Sub-Centre at the National Museum, Department of Fine Arts, the TROPMED Central Office and the TROPMED National Centre of Thailand at Mahidol University, and the Secretariat in Bangkok. He also paid courtesy calls on H.E. Mr Pichai Rattakul, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and on H.E. Mr Chuan Leekpai, Minister of Education of Thailand. The SEAMEC President also participated in consultative meetings with the Minister of Education, Thailand, and with High Officials of the Education Ministry, Chairman of National Co-ordinating Committees and Governing Board Members of Thailand for SEAMEO Units for Malaysia-Thailand co-operation programmes. Other places visited by the SEAMEC President included the Sukhothai Historical Park Museum, historical monuments at Sri Sachanalai, the Grand Palace and the National Museum in Bangkok.


The SEAMEC President was on tour at the SEAMEO Secretariat Office.	His Excellency the SEAMEC President and Dr Adul Wichiencharoen, SEAMES Director were exchanging conversation during the tour at the SEAMEO Secretariat.
In a letter dated 19 October 1983 his Excellency said that his recent visit to the SEAMEO Units in Thailand had been both encouraging and enlightening. His letter further stated, "I had very fruitful and stimulating discussions with the various SEAMES personnel and also staff of the SEAMEO Units of SPAFA and TROPMED, not forgetting the honour to meet and discuss matters of mutual interest with the Thailand Minister of Education and the Deputy Prime Minister himself".

Professor Dr Adul Wichiencharoen, SEAMES Director was giving a memento to the SEAMEC President as an appreciation of his visit.	Miss Suchitra Vuthisathira, Co-ordinator, SPAFA, was giving a gift to the SEAMEC President on the occasion of His Excellency visit to the centre.
During his visit to Indonesia from 11 January to 15 January, the SEAMEC President called on H.E. the Minister of Education and Culture, Indonesia. His Excellency visited the TROPMED National Centre at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia in Jakarta, the SPAFA Sub-Centre for Archaeological Research located at the National Resource Centre for Archaeology, Jakarta, the SPAFA Sub-Centre for the Culture, Jakarta, and the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Tropical Biology (BIOTROP) at Tajur. The tour also included a visit to the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) in Bogor, where his Excellency held a discussion with the Vice-Rector and Deans of the Faculties of the University on matters of mutual interest. The Indonesian tour concluded with a visit to Borobudur. His Excellency left for Singapore on Sunday 15 January 1984 and on the following day he paid courtesy calls on H.E. Dr Goh Keng Swee, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, and H.E. Dr Tay Eng Soon, the Minister of State (Education), Singapore, and visited the SEAMEO Regional Language Centre (RELC). The SEAMEC President returned to Kuala Lumpur on 17 January 1984.