Dr M to be first Malaysian leader to address prestigious Oxford Union on Jan 18

Dr M to be first Malaysian leader to address prestigious Oxford Union on Jan 18

The famous student debating society draws membership from the University of Oxford.

The 93-year old prime minister will also be the first democratically-elected leader from Asean to be invited to speak at Oxford Union.
PETALING JAYA:
Dr Mahathir Mohamad is set to become the first Malaysian leader to address the Oxford Union, making it to a list of illustrious leaders such as Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.

The speech is expected to be delivered on Friday (Jan 18) at the well-known debating society where membership is drawn primarily from the University of Oxford.

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, in a tweet, congratulated the prime minister for getting the invitation.

“After months of planning, Mahathir will finally make his appearance at the Oxford Union,” he wrote.

Syed Saddiq said the 93-year-old prime minister would not only be the first Malaysian but also the first democratically-elected leader from Asean to be invited to speak at Oxford Union.

“Can’t wait!. Malaysia, the tiger of Asia!” he added.

Oxford Union has a tradition of hosting debates and speakers stretching back to 1823. Former British prime minister Harold Macmillan called it “the last bastion of free speech in the Western world”.

The Union boasts that “to this day, the Union remains the principal forum for national and international debate”.

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