STATE VISIT TO MALAYSIA

23 August 2007

The Governor-General, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC, will represent the government and people of Australia at celebrations marking the 50th Anniversary of Malaysia’s Independence.

Australia was closely associated with the establishment of the Federation of Malaya in 1957 and sponsored Malaya’s application for membership of the United Nations. Australia also took a close and positive interest in the formation of Malaysia. Sir William McKell, a former Governor-General of Australia, together with four other Commonwealth jurists, helped draft the Malaysian Constitution.

Malaysia’s impressive economic development, location, active participation in our immediate region, and its long-standing relationship with Australia in many spheres makes Malaysia an important bilateral partner.

The bilateral relationship is diverse, with active and cooperative relations across a broad range of sectors. These include trade and investment, tourism and aviation, education, defence, counter-terrorism, law enforcement and efforts to combat people smuggling.

General Jeffery has a close personal association with Malaysia being posted there in 1962 for operational service with the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment and was awarded the Pingat Jasa Malaysia by the Malaysian Government in 2006.

The Governor-General will depart on 30 August and will return to Australia on 2 September 2007.