Bukit Kiara, 8 December 2011 - A 32-year partnership between the Malaysian Government and the Ohio University in the US was given a boost today by Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) with a USD750,000 (RM2.34 million) contribution towards the Tun Abdul Razak (TAR) Chair at the university.

The Chair, housed at the university’s Department of South East Asian studies since 1979 in honour of Malaysia’s second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak, was the first to be established at an American University with support from a foreign government.

It was set up to develop an understanding and appreciation of Malaysia among selected constituencies and as a bridge to forge stronger ties between the US and Malaysia.

YSD chairman YAB Tun Musa Hitam presented the mock cheque to Ohio University president Dr. Roderick J. McDavis, witnessed by the deputy direct general (public sector) of the Higher Education ministry Professor Morshidi Sirat at a ceremony held at the Sime Darby Convention Centre, Bukit Kiara.

“YSD is pleased to contribute to this Chair as it presents us with the opportunity to enrich Malaysia’s educational and cultural ties with the US.”

“We hope the contribution will also help develop a new vision and future for the Chair, making it more visible and influential in the US besides illustrating Malaysia’s accomplishments in 54 years since gaining independence,” YAB Tun Musa Hitam said in his welcoming speech.

Tun Musa further added, “The contribution is also in tandem with YSD’s support for education, which is one the five pillars supported by the foundation. YSD’s Education pillar promotes excellence at various levels of education including advanced research and studies in numerous fields.”

Since 1981, 13 reputable Malaysian scholars have held the Chair and this year, Professor Dr. Habibah Ashari, the Director of the International Education College (INTEC) at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) has been selected. The Professor of Education, who holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the Indiana University, US, is only the second woman to be granted this honour.

Selected by the Education ministry in consultation with the Tun Razak Council and Ohio University, she has a two-year residency in Ohio from July 2011. She will conduct seminars for undergraduate and graduate students in her area of expertise and organise an international conference on Southeast Asia during her second year.

The accomplishments of the TAR Chair to date include:

• 2,400 Malaysians now holding undergraduate and graduate degrees;
• The Malaysian Resource Center at the Ohio University’s Alden Library housing over 400,000 items on South East Asian publications;
• Ohio University and UiTM are the pioneers of the “twinning programme” for higher education in Malaysia, and;
• More than 100 Ohio University professors have taught and conducted collaborative academic activities in Malaysia over the years.

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