Ambassador Awang Adek spoke about “Moderation and National Integration in Malaysia” on March 11, 2015.
Malaysia is a moderate muslim-majority country with a population of about 30 million people. About 60 percent of the population are Muslims and the rest are Buddhists, Hindus and Christians. The country is also multi-racial, comprising mainly the Malays and Bumiputra (60%), Chinese (25%) and Indians (11%). Given the multi-religious and multi-racial nature of Malaysia, moderation and national integration is key in promoting peace and stability in the country in order to create a conducive environment for investment, sustained economic growth and virtually full employment. As a result, Malaysia has been quite successful in eradicating poverty and moving up the development ladder with per-capita income of over USD $11,000 currently, and projected to exceed USD $15,000 by the year 2020.
Biography:
Ambassador Awang Adek bin Hussin is Malaysia’s Ambassador to US since April 2014. Ambassador bin Hussin has served as a Director General of Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority (LOFSA). Dr. bin Hussin joined Bank Negara in 1985 and served as its Director of Economics Department from 1992 to 1994. He served as Director of Bank Regulation Department at Bank Negara Malaysia from 1994 to 1994 and Assistant Governor in Governor’s Office from 1996 to 2001. Dr. bin Hussin served as a Deputy Minister to the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development from 2004 to 2006 and Deputy Minister to the Ministry of Finance from 2006 to 2008. He began his career as a lecturer in economics at University Sains Malaysia in 1983. He served as the Chairman of Perbadanan Nasional Berhad. Dr. bin Hussin served as the Chairman of AWC Berhad (formerly, AWC Facility Solutions Bhd) since April 30, 2008. He served as the Chairman of Tenaga Nasional Bhd from December 2002 to March 31, 2004. He served as an Independent Non-Executive Chairman of M3 Technologies (Asia) Berhad (formerly AKN Messaging Technologies Berhad) until March 29, 2004. Dr. bin Hussin has been an Independent Non Executive Director of AWC Berhad since April 2008. He serves as a Director of Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad, Pos Malaysia and Kumpulan Melaka Berhad. He served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Pos Malaysia Berhad (formerly Pos Malaysia & Services Holdings Berhad) from 12 October, 2001 to 31 March 2004. Dr. bin Hussin served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of M3 Technologies (Asia) Berhad from December 3, 2002 to March 29, 2004. He served as a Director of Tenaga Nasional Bhd from December 2002 to March 31, 2004. Dr. bin Hussin served as a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of Ya Horng Electronic M Bhd since October 6, 2001. He served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of ECM Libra Financial Group Berhad (formerly Avenue Assets Bhd) from April 7, 2003 to March 31, 2004. Dr. bin Hussin also served as Member of Securities Commission, Labuan Development Authority, Malaysian Insurance Institute, Amanah Saham Nasional Management Board and Danaharta Oversight Committee. Dr. bin Hussin obtained a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) in Mathematics and Economics from Drew University, New Jersey, United States of America in 1977. He also holds a Master of Arts (Economics) and a PhD in Economics from Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, USA.
Moderator:
Don Cooke is an independent consultant and retired Foreign Service Officer. He consults and lectures on international relations, economics and program management. From 2009-2012, he was Director of the Office of Iraq – Economics and Assistance in the United States Department of State. Don served as Special Assistant to Assistant Secretary for Arms Control Steven Rademaker. In that position, he played a key role in the reorganization of arms control and nonproliferation within the State Department culminating in the formation of the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. From 2000 to 2004, he was Executive Secretary of the Foreign Service Grievance Board, which hears appeals of grievances of Foreign Service Officers from five government agencies. Prior to that, he was the Deputy Director of the Office of Economic Policy in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the height of the Asian Financial Crisis. He has served in Portugal, Malaysia, Japan, Paris (OECD) and as the Desk Officer for Argentina. He was Staff Assistant to Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Paul Wolfowitz. He started his career as Vice Consul in Tehran, Iran where he was held hostage, along with 52 Embassy colleagues, by the followers of Ayatollah Khomeini. Don was the last of the former US hostages in Iran on active duty with the State Department. He has earned the Department’s Award for Valor, three Superior Honor Awards, the US Army Superior Civilian Service Award, two Meritorious Honor Awards, a Meritorious Service Increase and two Performance Awards. He was honored by the American Foreign Service Association with the W. Averell Harriman Award. Task Force Mountain Commanding General Michael Oates presented him with the 10th Mountain Division combat patch.