Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Australian university honours Malaysian tycoon
BERNAMA
MELBOURNE, Wed.:
Malaysian-born Maha Sinnathamy, creator of the A$12 billion Greater Springfield residential development near Brisbane, has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ).
Multi-millionaire Sinnathamby, who has a deep commitment to education, was instrumental in attracting the Toowoomba-based USQ to establish a campus in Springfield last year, now home to many students from Asia.
He was conferred the doctorate by the university’s chancellor, Bobbie Brazil, to the delight of his family, corporate colleagues and academic staff. Greater Springfield, Australia’s first privately-built city, 28km south-west of Brisbane, has won international acclaim for its uniqueness. Sinnathamby, a product of Seremban’s St Paul’s Institution, who grew up in Negri Sembilan, said: “I’m extremely proud of this honour because I have a lifelong passion for education.”
The university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove, said the conferral of the doctorate on Sinnathamby was in recognition of his distinguished service to the Springfield community and to USQ, while also acknowledging his strong advocacy of the ideals of the university. Apart from his business acumen, Maha possessed some unique personal characteristics, Prof Lovegrove said. “Among them are his broad vision, an entrepreneurial spirit, a tenacious nature, a willingness to take risks and think outside of the square, a community focus and commitment in the face of adversity. “These ideals align closely with those of USQ and help to explain the close ties that have formed between the university and Maha,” he said.
Has he contributed anything for the education/development of the indians here in his tanah air? I’m asking coz i really don’t know.
cheers
MP: I’m not sure. There was an article about him in the papers a few months back. I think he moved to Australia when he was in the twenties. I’ll try to find the article again.
You can read about him at the Globalmalaysians website.