Newsletter20132
To: APLFD Members From: APLFD Secretariat
Date: May 17, 2013 Pages : 2
Dear Colleagues,
As 2013 is moving into its second half, at this time, we would like to to bring to you the updated news regarding the League affairs as follows:
1. A Tribute to our Dear Bruce
From Australia, came the sad news of the decease of Mr. Bruce Skeggs who has made significant contributions to the League’s causes during his association with the APLFD since the late 1980s. He was passed away on March 21, 2013. Aged 81.
Born in Sydney, Bruce was a talented child with a gift in singing. His mother, Ethel, a musician, brought him into the world of music when he was still a boy. At 16, he travelled to Melbourne to seek his new life. In Melbourne, he found his new world among the trotters (horse). His knowledge and love for the trotters turned him into a trotting commentator, bringing him pleasure, fame and friends.
In early 1970s, Bruce turned into the politics. He was elected into the Parliament of Victoria in 1973, till 1982 when he lost the election. But he came back in 1988, and reminded as a leading Member of the Victoria Parliament, till he retired in 1996.
Being the Chairman of the Australia Chapter, he was the Host of the APLFD annual conferences for three times, respectively in 1993 (in Melbourne), 1997 (in Melbourne) and 1999 (in Brisbane). In 2005, he passed on his chapter chairmanship to his long-time friend, Mr. Clive Pick. We will always remember Bruce as a decent, dedicated, and honourable man, who has a big heart and a strong passion for life.
2. Go to Wikipedia.org for APLFD
We take pleasure to inform you that we have updated the introduction of our League at the Wikipedia. So, next time when someone enquires what is APLFD, you may ask them to go to Wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian Pacific League for Freedom and Democracy.
3.Congratulations to our Malay Friend
From Malaysia, we have the good news that Datuk Hasan Malek, the Chairman of our Malaysia Chapter, was re-elected as Member of Parliament of Malaysia during a tight national election held on May 5. The result of the election consolidated the continuing ruling power of the National Front, a coalition that Mr. Hasan Malek belongs to. According to Mr. Thomas HongChye Lee, Secretary General of our Malaysia Chapter, that Datuk Hasan might be appointed as a Minister.
4.Building up Indonesia Connection
At the instruction of Mr.Liou Jieh Jow, the APLFD Secretary General, Mr. Alex Wang, the APLFD Executive Secretary, paid a fact finding visit to Jakarta, Indonesia on May 6 to 10. The purpose of the visit was to build up connection in Indonesia as ASEAN grows.
While in Jakarta, Alex has paid a visit to the Kwik Kian Gie School of Business (KKGSB), and have an impressive meeting with Dr. Anthony Budiawan, President of the KKGSB. The School was founded by Dr. Kwik Kian Gie, who was the Minister of Economics and Financial (1999-2000) and the Minister of National Development (2001-2004) of Indonesia. He is a respectable economist, well-known among the business and political circle in Indonesian.
During his visit, Alex also have met with Mr. Rafendi Djamin, the Representative of Indonesia at the ASEAN Inter-government Commission on Human Rights. He is a national leader in human rights movement. Alex also have met with Dr. Makarim Wibisono, the Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation, which was established for the promotion of One ASEAN.
5. Visitors from Afar
In April, friends who have called on the Secretariat were :
Mr. Lien Kon Sien from Brunei, the Host of our 2012 Asia Pacific Round Table; Mr. Rodrigo Camelo Ong from Manila, the Director of our Philippine Chapter, and Mr. John Wood from Auckland, the Vice President of our New Zealand Chapter.