- Home
- About us
- Visas and migration
- Travelling to Australia
- Services for Australians
- Doing business with Australia
- Study in Australia
- Media
- About Australia
- Australia-Malaysia relationship
- Australia-Malaysia Institute
- Australian Federal Police
- Defence
- Events
Prime Minister of Australia bestows Honorary awards to two outstanding Malaysians
KUALA LUMPUR 10 July 2008 - The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister of Australia, today appointed two outstanding Malaysian citizens as Honorary Officers of the Order of Australia. The Order of Australia is part of the Australian honours system and the Officer of the Order of Australia is awarded for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia.
The Prime Minister appointed as Honorary Officers of the Order of Australia Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (Dr) Jeffrey Cheah Fook Ling, Chancellor, Sunway University College; and Tan Sri Dato’ Azman Hashim, Chairman, AmBank Group. Honorary appointments to the Order of Australia are made to persons who are not Australian citizens.
Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah was recognized for his substantial contribution to the bilateral relationship through his promotion of education and business links, particularly tertiary education and the establishment of a Monash University campus in Malaysia, the first ‘branch campus’ for the University.
Tan Sri Azman Hashim is one of the founders of the Malaysia-Australia Foundation which co-partnered the establishment the Malaysia Australia Colombo Plan Commemoration scholarships, a significant scholarship program which provides Malaysian and Australian students with the opportunity to experience diverse cultures and new lifestyles through sponsored education. A former Colombo Plan alumni, Tan Sri Azman, as Chairman of the AmBank Group, has spearheaded numerous negotiations with several Australian companies to invest in Malaysia, among them Australia’s biggest general insurer, IAG, acquiring a stake in the Group’s insurance company, AmAssurance; and ANZ Banking Group’s strategic partnership with the AmBank.
Those who are appointed Honorary Officers of the Order of Australia are entitled to use the post-nominal ‘AO’.