PENANG, October 2015 – The influences from the 4,000-year old heritage and past civilisation of Pakistan have produced lasting effects in the current fields of education and technology, and have become a source of pride for Pakistan.

The Honorary Consul-General of Pakistan in Penang, Dato’ Haji Abdul Rafique Abdul Karim said this at the USM 2nd Ambassadors Summit 2015 recently, while explaining that Pakistan would still be sending its students to Malaysia to continue pursuing their studies in various fields as a way to strengthen bilateral ties between the two Muslim countries.

“I thank USM for the admission of the students who have fulfilled the requirements into the university every year and it is hoped that the number of enrolment would increase with each coming year.

“Malaysia and Pakistan are among two of the Commonwealth countries having an education system that is almost similar in nature, in fact even during the time of the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj, students from Malaysia have been encouraged to pursue their studies in Pakistan,” he said.

Added Rafique, the collaboration between USM and Pakistan in various areas of knowledge needs to be intensified in order to achieve greater success, for example in the close relationship between the Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR) USM and the University of Peshawar which is headed by Professor Dato’ Dr. Mohd Mokhtar Saidin, who had brought a part of the history of man’s civilisation into the forefront.

Abdul Rafique also urged all quarters to utilise various means of communication between the university in Malaysia with Pakistan, such as via teleconferencing as well as other means, while at the same time relying on the media to play an important role in conveying reliable and accurate information on Pakistan, especially in relation to the fields of study and research such as Medicine, Software Engineering Technology, Pharmacy and Archaeology, which are among the strong fields in the country.

“Pakistan is a peaceful country, although once a while there would be unsettling incidences, which would be similar to other countries around the world, but which should not cause unduly worry until the news reports have been confirmed and come from reliable sources,” he stressed further.

The moderator for the forum, USM Pro-Chancellor and diplomat, Tan Sri Razali Ismail said, the people in Malaysia should emulate how the people in Pakistan have devoted themselves to the aspects of education, and how such devotion have led to excellence, and even producing a Nobel Laureate from Pakistan.

"Pakistan is among the countries having advancement in many areas and I hope that we in Malaysia would learn and collaborate with them, including in the development of technology," said Razali who has extensive experience as a diplomat and having engagements with many countries.

In 2013, the USM Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs) together with several USM officials went to visit and signed memorandums of agreement with several universities in Pakistan, with the intention of extending relations in the field of education between the two countries.

The USM 2nd Ambassadors Summit 2015 Programme was attended by more than 400 participants comprising local and international students, as well as heads of departments and USM staff members.

Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah