NUS and UM celebrate close ties
Madam Halimah (centre), with (from left) NUS Chairman Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, Mr Po’ad Mattar, Prof Tan and HRH Sultan Dr Nazrin Shah
NUS and the University of Malaya (UM) reaffirmed their close and longstanding ties with the 51st edition of the UM-NUS Inter-University Tunku Chancellor Golf Tournament, held from 23 to 24 April. The two-day event saw faculty members, staff and alumni from both universities teeing off at Warren Golf and Country Club, as well as Keppel Club, taking the opportunity to renew old bonds and strike up new friendships.
An official dinner reception was held in conjunction with the tournament, hosted by NUS Chancellor and Singapore State President Madam Halimah Yacob, with UM Chancellor, His Royal Highness (HRH) Sultan Dr Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the Sultan of the State of Perak, in attendance. At dinner, attendees were treated to a music performance by NUS Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music alumni from the NUS Alumni Orchestra.
Speaking at the reception, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said the annual golf tournament celebrates the shared heritage and close relationship between both universities. He added, “The ties between UM and NUS are multi-layered and can perhaps be described to be like a kueh lapis. Delicious, familiar, yet not so easy to perfect. UM and NUS continue to be strong partners in seven networks and alliances, including the ASEAN University Network...Most recently, NUS Enterprise is working closely with UM to promote closer cooperation between the incubators of both universities.”
Prof Tan also welcomed UM participation in a NUS Fellows Programme specifically for Southeast Asia that the University will be launching. Under the scheme, young or would-be faculty members from universities in the region will have the opportunity to be attached to NUS faculty members for up to a year, allowing them access to the research infrastructure and academic environment at the University. While at NUS, Fellows will be able to build up their network of connections and bring these connections back to their home campuses.
A group photo before the games begin
Mooted with the aim of fostering goodwill between NUS and UM, the first edition of the Tournament was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1968. The tournament is hosted alternately by UM and NUS, with this year’s edition taking place in Singapore.
Golfers representing NUS this year included Mr Po’ad Mattar, NUS Pro-Chancellor; Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Singapore’s Ambassador to Kuwait; Mr Johnny Tan, NUS Alumni Advisory Board Co-chair; and Mr Bernard Toh, Director of NUS Alumni Relations. About 100 golfers took part, with NUS emerging the winner of the Tournament.
