Goh (3rd right) presenting a memento to Tang Rui (3rd left), meanwhile witnessed by Pheng (middle), Huazong Vice Presidents Dato’ Lam Kuang Yau (left), Tan Sri Tan Khoon Hai (2nd left), Wong Keng Tong (2nd right), and Vice Treasurer, Dato’ Ng Chin Heng (right), at the farewell dinner.
KUALA LUMPUR: The manner Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim conducted his recent official visit to China, especially when he conveyed his warm greetings to his audience in flawless Mandarin, fully demonstrated his unity government’s support and emphasis for multilingual education in Malaysia, said the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) President Tan Sri T C Goh.
He thus hoped the present multiracial unity government would continue to adopt a diverse approach in its policies, education policy included, so as to ensure that our unique multilingual and multi stream education would continue to grow and bloom in this country.
Goh, who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) said this at the farewell dinner hosted for Minister of Chinese Embassy in Malaysia Tang Rui at the Yeo Tiong Lai Hall in Wisma Huazong here Monday. It was jointly hosted by Huazong and more than 20 Chinese business and community organisations.
He also congratulated the Prime Minister on the fruitful results of his China visit which saw Malaysia securing RM170 billion (S$51.2 billion) worth of investment commitments from China.
He said it also reflected well on the Prime Minister’s capability, enthusiasm, wit and diplomacy towards strengthening bilateral relations, and trade and economic cooperation between Malaysia and China.
“I’m especially touched when the Prime Minister extended his warm greetings to the audience in flawless Mandarin, when speaking at the annual Boao Forum for Asia held in Hainan, besides emphasizing on Malaysia’s multilingual, multi-stream education, when delivering his speech at Tshinghua University. And, I fully agree with his statement,” he said.
Goh said that the Prime Minister’s action of declaring the government’s position in defending and safeguarding diversity and multiracial approach in governance, on an international stage, when the nation is still facing challenges posed by extremist groups and individuals in the country, was commendable and worth supporting by all rational and moderate thinking Malaysians.
Goh also welcomed and supported the proposal of Tshinghua University setting up its campus in Malaysia, which was proposed during the meeting between Prime Minister and China’s President Xi Jinping.
“Tshinghua University too has expressed such intention, and if it gets the nod from the Malaysian and the Chinese governments, it will be another significant collaboration in higher education sector between Malaysia and China, after the establishment of Xiamen University Malaysia Campus, in 2016. Hopefully, it will become a reality, soon,” said Goh.
He also noted that upon returning from China, the Prime Minister even wrote “Xie Xie Ni” (which means ‘thank you’ in Chinese) and posted it on his Facebook page, to express his gratitude to the Chinese government for the warm receptions and hospitality during his official visit to China.
Touching on Tang Rui, Goh recalled that the former started his official duty in Malaysia on 14 July, 2020 and had served during the tenure of former Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Bai Tian, and the present Chinese Ambassador, Ouyang Yujing.
He also described Tang Rui as a “close friend” of the Malaysian Chinese community, especially citing his dedicated service and close cooperation rendered during the harshest period of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Tang Rui acknowledged that Malaysia has the most comprehensive Chinese education system outside of China, and that it should be considered the pride of the Malaysian Chinese community, and Chinese people worldwide.
He said, Malaysia’s Chinese education is internationally renowned, citing that Malaysia has the largest number of Chinese schools and the teachers are among the most qualified.
He also acknowledged that the recent fruitful meeting between Anwar and his China counterpart President Xi Jinping has further strengthened bilateral relations and opened up more opportunities for bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and China.
Also in attendance at the occasion were, Ma Cuihong, Minister Counsellor of China Embassy in Malaysia, Huazong Life Honorary Presidents, Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah, Tan Sri Lim Hock San, Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng, Tan Sri Tee Tiam Lee, Dong Zong President, Tan Tai Kim, and Jiao Zong President, Cheah Lek Aee, among others.
