H E Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Haji Abdul Aziz Umar

Activities of the SEAMEC President 1992

During the year under review, His Excellency Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Haji Abdul Aziz Umar, the Minister of Education, Brunei Darussalam and the President of the SEAMEO Council of Ministers, made a number of visits to the Member Countries, the SEAMEO Units as well as participated in a number of SEAMEO activities.

On 20 April 1992, the SEAMEC President officiated the Opening Ceremony of the 1992 SEAMEO RELC Regional Seminar on "Language Teacher Education Fast Changing World" in Singapore. At SEAMEO RELC, the SEAMEC President met with the Centre staff and was given briefing on the programmes and activities of the Centre. The SEAMEC President paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr Lee Yock Suan, the Minister of Education, Singapore, in the afternoon of 20 April.

On 6 July 1992, the SEAMEC President visited SEAMEO SEARCA at Los Banos, Philippines where he delivered the keynote address at the SEAMEO SEARCA Governing Board Meeting followed by a tour of the Centre facilities and dialogue with the staff. On the following day, His Excellency Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Haji Abdul Aziz delivered a key note address at the SEAMEO INNOTECH Regional Seminar on "Policies and Approaches Towards Achieving Education For All (EFA) Objectives in Southeast Asia in Quezon City, Philippines.

In the morning of the 30 November 1992, the SEAMEC President visited the new building of SEAMEO SPAFA in Bangkok and was briefed by the Centre Director on the programmes, activities and future plans. Luncheon was tended at Princess Hotel by the Ministry of Education of Thailand hosted by His Excellency Dr Pramote Sukhum, Deputy Minister of Education of Thailand, representing His Excellency Samphan Thongsamak, Minister of Education.

The SEAMEC President in the afternoon of the same day, visited the SEAMEO Secretariat and had a dialogue with the Deputy Director, Assistant Directors and heads of Divisions. His Excellency also officiated at the SEAMEO TROPMED Gala Dinner in observance of SEAMEO TROPMED's 25th anniversary and the 13th International Congress of Malariology and Tropical Medicine at Ambassador City Hotel, Jomtien, Pattaya. During this occasion he delivered the dinner speech and presented medals to outstanding SEAMEO TROPMED alumni.

From 1 to 5 December, the SEAMEC President visited Indochina and met with the Ministers of Education of three countries. In the afternoon of 1 December, His Excellency made a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr Im Chhun Lim, Minister of Education of Cambodia. He also visited the University of Phnom Penh, some temples, and a muslim mosque. His Excellency the Minister of Education of Cambodia hosted a dinner at Hotel Cambodiana.

In the morning of 2 December, the SEAMEC President while on transit from Phnom Penh to Hanoi at Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), visited the SEAMEO Buildings and had a dialogue with some staff of the Ministry of Education of Viet Nam based in HCMC.

In the afternoon, the SEAMEC President had a dialogue with His Excellency Professor Tran Hong Quan, Minister of Education and Training, Viet Nam, prior to the dinner hosted by His Excellency the Minister of Education.

On 3 December, the SEAMEC President met with His Excellency Mr Samane Vignaket, Minister of Education and Sports of Lao PDR at the Ministry's office in Vientiane. The SEAMEC President also visited a muslim mosque and dialogue with the muslim community. His Excellency, Mr Samane Vignaket, hosted a dinner in honour of the SEAMEC President at Lane Xan Hotel.

In the morning of the 4 December, the SEAMEC President visited some temples and other places of cultural interest prior to departure for Bangkok.

His Excellency returned to Brunei Darussalam via Singapore on 5 December. During His Excellency's visits to Thailand and Indochina, he was accompanied by the SEAMEO Secretariat Director and Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Muhammad, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education; Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Saman bin Abdul Kahar, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Religious Affairs; Haji Abdul Salam bin POKPS DP Haji Hashim, Senior Administrative Officer of Ministry of Education; Mr Augusto Vega Carballo, Information Officer of SEAMEO Secretariat; Mr Mazin bin Haji Muntol, Religious Affairs Officer of Ministry of Religious Affairs; Mr Abu Bakar Haji Bonglah, Diplomatic Officer of Ministry of foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam.