Honourable Guests from M'sia

Late thursday evening, dah nak masuk mlm pun, i received an email from my supervisor and also HOD, Prof Majeed. As below..

Visit of the Honourable Minister of Health Malaysia

Dear Prof. Rawaf,

It was indeed a pleasure to be able to speak to your earlier.

As promised, please find attached list below of the delegation who will be attending tomorrow’s briefing:

1. The Honourable Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai

Minister of Health

2. Datin Sri Lee Sun Loo (attendance tbc)

Spouse to the Minister of Health

3. Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Ismail Merican

Director General of Health

Imagine my shock when i received the email saying the MOH and DG are coming to my dept for a briefing. Prof Salman Rawaf is the Head of the WHO collaboration centre that is based in Imperial. Apparently, several universities bid for this, but Imperial won it so Prof Rawaf, is in Imperial College now.

So, when I arrived that morning, my friend Malar (another PhD student)and myself, the only 2 Malaysians at the dept were so nervous. 3pm the time it was, and Khairul Gadafi, the political secretary came 1st. After that, we went downstairs and greeted the Minister and DG that arrived with their car.

Prof Salman Rawaf gave a very, very good presentation on NHS. Some of the stuff were new to me and basically it's what M'sia can learn from UK's healthcare system. At one point Datuk Seri pointed at me and said "you, what you are witnessing today is history in the making. We are about to change the system in M'sia and you are part of the moment".. :)

Between the briefing we had tea break. Tan Sri was asking me where am i attached, what's my background and my PhD. I told him i'm doing diabetes and behaviour and he was v excited. He said the Ministry could do with people like you.. we are starting up a centre for diabetes and behaviour.. i said ok and smiled.. I introduced him to my supervisor, Prof Majeed. He said diabetes is costing a lot, and nothing much is changing.. and then they had a chat. Tan Sri also mentioned it to the Minister, so at that moment I was v happy because i felt a had a sense of self, that i had potential to be someone who can contribute to the society at large.

After briefing, we brought them to Charing Cross Hospital and also the walk-in-centre. The M'sian delegates gave us presents (mine was a batik selendang) and we also took pictures with them. They left at 6pm and was very, very impressed and happy with the whole mmeting. Tan Sri Ismail and Datuk Seri Liow pesan "belajar baik2, balik nanti contribute to the country ok".. hehehehehe...

They're in here till Saturday and then off to Geneva for the convention..