SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE MALAY COLLEGE OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION
YM TUNKU DATO’ AHMAD BURHANUDDIN BIN TUNKU ADNAN
AT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT SIGNING CEREMONY
BETWEEN MCOBA AND SUNRISE INNOVATION SDN. BHD.
21 February 2017
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar
Chairman of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar’s Board of Governors and Chairman of the MCKK Foundation,
Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dr. Ir. Ahmad Tajuddin Ali
Chairman, UEM Sunrise Berhad,
Yang Berusaha Encik Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UEM Sunrise Berhad,
Yang Berusaha Encik Nor Din Abdullah
Director of Sunrise Innovation Sdn. Bhd.,
Fellow MCOBA brothers and our friends from UEM Sunrise,
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Today is a big day for MCOBA. We will be formalising our relationship with UEM Sunrise Berhad through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sunrise Innovation Sdn. Bhd.
MCOBA was fortunate to be given several parcels of land along Jalan Syed Putra, thanks to the effort of our members over the years, from the 1960s to the 70s. Those Old Boys had the foresight and selflessness to find and acquire these land not for themselves, but for the Association, so that the association would have something for itself in the future. MCOBA members then supported the construction of a modest building by launching a fundraiser, and in 1978 the Association had a place to call home, and to generate modest income for itself from the rental of office space. The remaining parcels of land remain unutilized.
We are now presented with the opportunity to develop this asset for the future, and I believe we have the right partner for the job.
This development would mean a lot for our Association. MCOBA would gain a new office building that would meet the demands of modern tenancy and environmental efficiency requirements and a banquet hall with a capacity for 1,200 people. Our members would also be invited for the soft launch and have the first pick on units available for sale.
This signing marks an important milestone in MCOBA’s history. It is a collaboration that would unlock the value of our asset and generate sustainable income for our Association. This development is for our future, as we continue our tradition and commitment to be part of the stakeholder support system to produce Malaysia’s leaders and captains of industries.
It would allow us to play a bigger role in nation-building by enabling us to be part of the support system that would allow Malaysian children to achieve better, dream higher and lead this country into a future that befits this glorious nation.
This project is a display of teamwork that exists within each organisation and between both JV parties. Over 40 MCOBA members have voluntarily contributed their time and expertise in their respective fields, from land matters, legal, architecture, construction, facilities maintenance, financial models, and many more to bring this project up to this point.
There is also the team that comprises of MCOBA and UEM Sunrise members that have worked tirelessly to get the Development Agreement done. The team from UEM Sunrise have patiently taken our various requests and ideas, given it due consideration and really pushed the envelope to give us what we want, while enshrining the spirit of the tender that won them this project. In the end, this project will InsyaAllah be a win-win for everybody, with both parties able to satisfy their stakeholder’s wishes.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of them for their dedication and selfless commitment. I think we are off to a great start.
Where we are today is the collective effort of people, working as a team and wanting to do the right thing for their organisations and for the future of this country.
I would like to thank Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar, Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Tajuddin, Encik Anwar Syahrin, our immediate past president Dato’ Ghazali Mat Ariff for his leadership in initiating this development project so that MCOBA can continue in a strong path to the future, Encik Amin Ramli, Head of the MCOBA Land and Building Sub-Committee for doing a marvellous job in managing the entire process, Encik Ali Karim who led a strict and professional tender evaluation process, and En. Ali Dewal for leading the MCOBA Development Committee at the onset.
Finally, thank you to everyone who attended today’s ceremony.
Burung helang megah di angkasa
Burung bayan terbang berpasangan
Hari gemilang sejarah tercipta
Segala impian kan jadi kenyataan
Pohon mengkudu ditiup sang bayu
Sayang kiambang tumbuh di paya
Bangunan baru semangat pun baru
Menjadi lambang muafakat kita
Sungguh merdu si burung kenari
Di tepi sumur menyanyi-nyanyi
Terima kasih sekalung budi
Budi yang luhur tersemat di hati
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
