Royal honour: Sultan Nazrin (second from right) and Tuanku Zara (left) with Tharman and his wife Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar. — Bernama
IPOH: A joint precision academic symposium was held here, marking over six decades of academic collaboration between Universiti Malaya (UM) and the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Precision health, cutting-edge research, AI applications and advancements, and regional collaboration were the focus, with distinguished scholars and clinicians from both universities delivering talks.
Held at Royal Perak Golf Club in conjunction with the 54th UM-NUS Inter-University Tunku Chancellor Golf Tournament, the event was graced by Perak Ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah.
Also present was Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is the NUS Chancellor, Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon and UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman.
Keynote addresses were delivered by Prof Dr Lim Lee Ling of UM’s Faculty of Medicine, and Prof Dr Tai E. Shyong from NUS’ Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
Noor Azuan highlighted the deep and enduring ties between Malaysia and Singapore, saying both nations were intertwined in many ways and shared the roots of history.
“UM and NUS are the custodians of this legacy,” he said.
He said universities played a unique role in global society, thriving not through competition for resources like states or corporations but through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
He said the region was grappling with major challenges, from climate stress to growing security threats.
“In this context, UM and NUS must not stand at the margins. We must lead in providing thought leadership that grounds the world in evidence and foresight in creating the needed solutions,” he said.
“From energy transitions to regional health security, UM and NUS must emerge as global leaders in shaping ideas and action.”
NUS president Prof Tan Eng Chye reaffirmed the strong and longstanding ties between both institutions, which have a mutual commitment to educational excellence.
He said NUS’s legacy began in 1905 with the establishment of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, which later became Universiti Malaya.
In 1962, UM’s Singapore campus was reconstituted as the University of Singapore, which later evolved into the National University of Singapore.
“As both universities commemorate 120 years of academic legacy this year, we are honoured to celebrate this enduring partnership through meaningful engagements.
“These reflect not only our deep institutional ties but also warm and long-standing bonds between Singapore and Malaysia,” he said.
As part of the celebrations, Sultan Nazrin and Raja Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, hosted a royal dinner in honour of Tharman and the NUS delegation at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar on Monday.
Further symbolising the camaraderie between the two institutions, 100 golfers took part in a golf tournament.
