Kelab UMNO Melbourne Australia

The third instalment of Seminar Pembangunan Insan was held on 9 August 2009 at Melbourne University and featured veteran politician Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Dato Seri’ Hishammuddin Hussein, who is the Minister of Home Affairs. These prominent figures were invited by Kelab UMNO Australia Melbourne (KUAM) to speak on the topic of unity hence the title ‘Understanding Racial Integration and its Challenges’. A number of almost 200 participants, ranging from the young to the elderly as well as a variety of races, were present to hear the provoking thoughts of the speakers on the issues of race.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah delivered his speech, titled “Race: Time for a New Beginning”, which touched on the core issues of race relations with a focus on past predicaments relevant to the present. He proved to be a very well-mannered person as he answered the participants’ questions and even made sure he answered each question appropriately. At the end of the session, he was invited to launch the new KUAMuniti logo accompanied by KUAM President Izhar Moslim. KUAMuniti represents the new founding beliefs of KUAM, which is to foster closer ties with non-malays thus spreading this through leading by example and establishing KUAM as a club that can be relevant to all races. When said at once, KUAMuniti sounds like ‘community’ and the two coloured figures in the middle resembles the different races in Malaysia.

DATO’ SERI HISHAMMUDDIN BECOMES A KUAM MEMBER!

Following the lunch and prayer break, Dato Seri Hishammuddin Hussein spoke on issues faced for future racial integration and admitted that he too dreams of a united Malaysia. At the end of his session, he was then invited to launch the KUAMuniti website and thus became the first paying member of KUAM through online registration. His friendly nature allowed for a few laughs throughout the session and he insisted on taking a group photo with everyone inside the hall, which made participants feel much closer to the Minister of Home Affairs.

“Even as a small club, we are trying to change the perception of people towards UMNO. Through today’s SPI program and our KUAMuniti tagline, the feedback we received from participants after the event was really encouraging and positive. Acknowledgement from both Tengku Razaleigh and Dato Seri Hishammuddin that they are proud of what we are doing adds to the satisfaction that we the committee members get. But the struggle will still continue”, commented Izhar Moslim on the success of the seminar.

Seminar Pembangunan Insan is a yearly event held by KUAM which brings prominent Malaysia figures to Melbourne to address the Malaysian community. Previous speakers include Khairy Jamaluddin and Tan Sri Anuar Musa in 2007 and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed in 2008. KUAM will continue to strive for improvement and invite many interesting public figures in the following years.