Two Asian leaders appointed Asia: NZ honorary advisers

MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 5 May 2011

Two Asian leaders appointed Asia: NZ honorary advisers

Two prominent public figures from Malaysia and Indonesia have just been appointed as new honorary advisers to the Asia New Zealand Foundation by Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

They are Tan Sri Leo Moggie from Malaysia and Amris Hassan from Indonesia who take up their roles immediately.

Tan Sri Leo Moggie, Non-Executive Chairman of Tenaga Nasional Berhad, was a Member of Parliament of Malaysia from 1974 to 2004 and has held various ministerial posts, in the State of Sarawak and in the Malaysian Federal Government in charge of energy, communications and multimedia among others.

Tan Sri Leo Moggie graduated with a M.A. in History from University of Otago and a M.B.A. from Pennsylvania State University, United States. He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Otago in 2000. Mr Moggie has strong connections to New Zealand and his children have also been educated here.

A well-known businessman and distinguished public figure in Indonesia, new honorary adviser Amris Hassan is also closely linked to New Zealand, having until recently served as Ambassador of Indonesia to New Zealand.

Amris Hassan is Chairman of PT Pelangi Niaga Mitra Internasional and continues to work closely with New Zealand as Chair of the Indonesia-New Zealand Friendship Council launched in Jakarta last October. “I will do my utmost to render support to the promoting of relations between Indonesia and New Zealand,” said Mr Hassan upon his appointment.

Announcing the appointments today, Hon Philip Burdon, chairman of Asia New Zealand Foundation, said: “It is to the foundation’s and our country’s great benefit that people of such distinction are prepared to devote time to building links with New Zealand in their home countries. I am delighted that these two men with such distinguished careers are joining our network of honorary advisers.”

The foundation’s board of honorary advisers is made up of an elite group of 17 public figures from 10 different Asian nations, who have strong connections to New Zealand and are appointed for a five-year term.

They represent an important human resource to the foundation in its activities to facilitate closer links between New Zealand and Asia.

They help provide access to networks at the most senior levels in their countries of appointment and beyond, for the Asia New Zealand Foundation, for New Zealand Government ministers and New Zealand diplomatic heads of mission.

Tan Sri Leo Moggie and Amris Hassan join existing honorary advisers from the following countries:

• China: Mme Li Xiaoli and Professor Zhou Guangzhao;
• Hong Kong SAR: Dr John CC Chan and Dr Victor K Fung;
• India: Dr Raghupati Singhania;
• Indonesia: Mr Firdaus Siddik;
• Japan: Mr Soichiro Fukutake and Mr Hirofumi Nakasone;
• Philippines: Mr Roberto Romulo;
• Singapore: Dr Ng Eng Hen and Mr Stanley Tan ONZM;
• South Korea: Professor Han Sung-Joo;
• Thailand: Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi and Dr Ajva Taulananda; and
• Vietnam: Mme Ton Nu Thi Ninh

(ENDS)

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