Singapore alumni celebrated
Over the past 60 years, many high profile Singaporean identities have studied at the University of Adelaide. A book commemorating their achievements was launched in Singapore in April 2006. The Southern Light--Enlightening and Enriching records the collective accomplishments of the Singaporean alumni from the University of Adelaide since 1946. It includes excerpts from Singapore's first elected president, the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong, the former Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam and the Second Minister for Finance and Foreign Affairs, Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat MP, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs. Launched by the Chancellor, the Honourable John von Doussa QC, the commemorative book is the first publication of its kind produced by an Australian university alumni chapter. Congratulating the University on the book, the Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, Mr Miles Kupa, said: "The commemorative book contains the personal reflections of a number of prominent Singaporeans who studied at the University of Adelaide. I am heartened to acknowledge that a number of people featured in the book now hold senior positions in Singapore's public and private sectors and have made significant contributions to Singapore." These include the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong, who graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Architecture from the University of Adelaide in 1962. He was the first elected President of the Republic of Singapore, serving his term from 1993-1999. When Mr Ong Teng Cheong was Minister for Transport he developed the Singapore Mass Rapid Transport System together with the late Mr Lim Leong Geok, another University of Adelaide alumnus who graduated in engineering. During the course of the MRT project, the team members comprised mainly University of Adelaide engineering graduates. Their contribution to Singapore's transport system is outlined in a chapter in the book. More than 50 graduates have contributed articles to the commemorative book, among them Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat, Mr S. Iswaran (Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry), Mrs Lim Siok Peng (Private Secretary to former President Mr Ong Teng Cheong) and Dr Cheong Choong Kong (Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation Chairman). ■ Story Candy Gibson
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