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Saturday, 12 March 2005

Around 40 of Malaysia's brightest young minds will gather at the Hotel Nikko, Kuala Lumpur today (Saturday, March 12) to take part in the University of Adelaide's annual offshore graduation ceremony.

This prestigious event will be made even notable with the attendance of Royal Selangor managing director Datuk Yong Poh Kon, who will give the graduation address.

Datuk Yong himself is a graduate of the University of Adelaide, completing a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering in 1968.

Established in 1874, the University of Adelaide is Australia's third-oldest university and carries a five-star rating for prestige.

Other notable Malaysian graduates from the University of Adelaide include the Chief Minister of Sarawak, the Honourable Pehin Sri Dr Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, and the Federal Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, YB Dato' Seri Haji Adenan Satem.

University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor and President Professor James McWha says today's graduation ceremony will highlight the achievements and potential of the University's Malaysian students.

"We always look forward to coming to Malaysia for this graduation ceremony, as we have a strong relationship with this country dating back more than 50 years," Professor McWha says.

"We are extremely privileged and honoured to have someone of Datuk Yong Poh Kon's standing give our graduation address this year, and I think the graduating students will benefit from hearing him impart just some of the knowledge and wisdom he has acquired over the years.

"At the University of Adelaide we strive to produce graduates who, like Datuk Yong, can go out and make an impact in their country and around the world and we hope there are many students graduating on Saturday who can follow in his footsteps."