The Great Room in the Shelbourne Hotel was the venue for the Irish Malaysia Association’s inaugural dinner, which attracted members and guests of this very successful trade association.
Incoming IMA President Vincent Yeo welcomed all the guests and outlined the role and the growth of the Association.
The guest of honour was Junior Minister Fergus O’Dowd, who was obviously very impressed after his visit to Kuala Lumpur last October where he attended both the Asian conference and the impressive Asia Pacific GAA games.
The ambassador of Malaysia to Ireland , Dato Ramil Naam, who is also the patron of the association, spoke of the close links between our two nations and in particular the growing number of Malaysian medical students who are studying at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin – which was worth €31 million in fee income last year.
Tourism Malaysia was well represented by popular Isabel Oliveira from the Dublin office and by Junus Suhid, Director for the UK and Ireland, who travelled from London for the event, this being 2014 Visit Malaysia year.
The evening continued with some good music from the Irish group, Heathers.
The next stop on the girls’ itinerary is Malaysia. In early March they will spend 10 days performing concerts, doing media interviews – and hopefully some sightseeing and absorbing Malaysian culture.
The following are some of their Malaysian appearances:
6 March 2014: 19.00, Hard Rock Hotel Penang, Penang, Malaysia.
7 March 2014: 20.00, Eastern and Oriental Ballroom, Penang, Malaysia.
8 March 2014: 21.00 Straits Quay, Penang, Malaysia.
