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- A brilliant night celebrating Friendship, Multiculturalism and Excellence!
Our recent celebration of Friendship, Multiculturalism and Excellence is setting the scene for the upcoming awards in 2024. All tickets for AMSA's Annual Dinner 2023 were swiftly snapped up, creating an atmosphere of eager anticipation among attendees from diverse multicultural backgrounds. The evening proved to be heartwarming and touching, serving as a memorable celebration of Friendship, Multiculturalism, and Excellence. Despite the convenience of technological connections spanning continents, there's an unparalleled joy in physically being together. It allowed us to truly appreciate the presence of remarkable individuals who contribute to the prosperity of our communities, becoming cherished members of our continually growing family. This evening was so timely for AMSA to announce the launch of our 2024 Australian Malaysian Singaporean Awards. Highlights of the evening Special message from Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Special message from the Hon. Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW Special message from Mr Thomas Matthew, Group CEO, TalentCorp Group of Company, Malaysia AMSA Annual Dinner 2023 was graced by several government officials and community leaders: Ms. Donna Davis MP, Member for Parramatta representing the NSW Minister for Multicultural Affairs Dr. Patricia Prociv, Deputy Lord Mayor, City of Parramatta Mr Simon Chan AM, President, Chinese Australian Forum (CAF) Mr Benjamin Chow AO, President, Australian Chinese Charity Foundation (ACCF) Mr Anthony Pang, Deputy Chair, Chinese Australian Services Society (CASS) AMSA Annual Dinner 2023 was made a reality thanks to our amazing partners and sponsors: Singapore Global Network (Main Sponsor) Supported by the Singapore Global Network (SGN), a division under Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). SGN is passionate about building relationships and connecting with individuals all over the globe. Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (Partner Sponsor) TalentCorp is a Government agency under the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) that attracts, nurtures and retains the best and the right talent to enable Malaysia to reach its economic aspirations. Phillip Au & Associates (Partner Sponsor) Phillip Au & Associates has been a trusted migration agency since 1994. They have earned an exceptional reputation for their unwavering commitment assisting countless migrants in optimizing their prospects for success and embarking on their journey to Australia with absolute confidence. Their team of migration specialists boasts fluency in multiple languages, including English, Malay, Mandarin, Indonesian, Cantonese, Hokkien, and Hainanese for comprehensive support. iPAN Property International (Partner Sponsor) iPAN is Australia’s Most Extensive Brand New Property Portal that has over 400 Brand New/ Off-the-plan projects in major cities across Australia, including Luxury Apartments, Home and Land Packages, and Townhouses. Its unique business model emphases on a Referral system mainly amongst Asian communities in Australia and overseas. They currently have over 2000 agents and business introducers throughout Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Malaysia, etc. and continuously expanding. “We are delighted to have been a Partner Sponsor of the AMSA Annual Dinner 2023. We were thoroughly impressed by the dedication and hard work of the AMSA committee in planning and executing such an exceptional event. Thank you for your efforts in making it a truly fantastic event.” - iPAN Property International, Partner Sponsor for AMSA Annual Dinner 2023 The Grace Hotel Sydney (Dinner Sponsor) Situated in the heart of Sydney CBD, the heritage-listed Grace Hotel offers the service and luxury of a 4.5-star city hotel that will meet the needs of discerning guests today. Discover Sydney from its heart at The Grace Hotel and be steps away from Darling Harbour and King Street Wharf, plus the best shopping, theatres and entertainment. The 387-room hotel has been beautifully restored to its former glory, making it one of Sydney’s most prominent historical landmarks, it is a fine example of Neo-Gothic architecture with a contrasting Art Deco interior featuring a unique blend of old-world charm with modern comfort. Scape Student Living (Dinner Sponsor) Disrupting industry norms, Scape has become known for curating world-class living and learning environments for students. With stylish rooms and creative spaces, we provide a sanctuary that nurtures and shapes the minds of our future leaders. At Scape, residents have everything they need to feel safe, calm, and at home while also feeling challenged, clued up, and plugged in. Medibank (Dinner Sponsor) Medibank is a health company providing private health insurance and health services to more than 3.9 million people in Australia Brilliant-Online (Media Sponsor) Brilliant-Online is a magazine that brings businesses to their communities. Its interactive content is similar to the magical Daily Prophet newspaper of the Harry Potter books and films. Accor Hotels (Accommodation Partner) Accor's fantastic Sydney Olympic Park Hotels include Novotel, Ibis Sydney Olympic Park and Pullman Sydney Olympic Park. Accor is committed to open innovation, people and sustainability making a meaningful impact by unlocking lifestyle experiences and shaping the hospitality of tomorrow. Bunnamagoo (Wine Sponsor) Bunnamagoo is named after our beloved farm in the high-country of New South Wales, near the township of Rockley. It is where our first Paspaley family vineyard was planted before our second vineyard and winery were established at Mudgee. From homestead to winery, the Paspaley commitment to traditional winemaking methods that focus on quality, promise wines that reflect their varietal character, our terroir and pristine climate. And not forgetting our Venue Partner, who gave us an absolutely magical evening at the impressive Accor Stadium! Beautiful memories of AMSA Annual Dinner 2023 The beautiful elegance of the Members Room at Accor Stadium, with its sky-high ceilings and room flooded with natural light. The excitement bubbles as guests gather at the Stadium mingling and catching up with one another while AMSA's Head of Branding and Marketing interviews officials, guests and performers. We were treated to a delightful array of performances. This is the luxury we have as a multicultural community where we get to enjoy Indian dancing, Chinese and Malay singing! A feast in all senses of the word! Audra Morrice brought her gastronomical magical touch that really lit up the entire evening. Her ability to honour authentic cuisine from everyone's culture while giving the menu a modern twist has left everyone feeling warm with nostalgia and incredibly pampered by the quality of every dish that was served. AMSA Annual Dinner Menu 2023 specially curated by Audra Morrice, MasterChef Judge Starter Five spiced smoked duck breast, woodear fungus, radish, cucumber, roasted sesame, soy and black vinegar, dressing Entrée Grilled butterflied tiger prawns, sambal hijau, ginger flower, roasted peanuts, kaffir lime, coconut milk Alternate Main Nonya chicken curry, potatoes, crispy ginger South Indian fish curry, eggplant, tomatoes, crispy ginger, curry leaves Shared Sides Nasi Kuning Steamed broccolini, crispy garlic and shallot oil Dessert Bubor Cha Cha, taro, sweet potato, sago, coconut milk, pandan "As AMSA is celebrating multiculturalism this year, everything on the menu needs to be straight from home, and I couldn't have picked better dishes because a couple of these are from my mother's kitchen. I am able to share that with everyone, and keep it authentic even as we jazz up the plating a bit to keep it more modern, but the flavours will always be succinct, authentic, and full of Southeast Asian, Singaporean or Malaysian umami flavours." - Audra Morrice, MasterChef Singapore Judge A big shout out to our Raffle Prizes contributors: The Grace Sydney, Eu Yan Sang, Ayam, Bunnamagoo Estate Wines, Sylvia Tiong, Mamak restaurant, Peranakan Place Nyonya Cuisine, Ho Jiak Town Hall, PappaRich Brookfield Place, Ipoh Dynasty, Just Go Shop and Killiney Kopitiam. This is our beautiful Friendship, Multiculturalism and Excellence! Here is what one of our guests' experience at our Annual Dinner 2023: “Attending the AMSA Annual Dinner 2023 at Accor Stadium was a true pleasure! You could really sense the team's dedication to preserving AMSA's legacy while extending a warm welcome to new friends. Celebrity Chef Audra Morrice's culinary expertise created a dinner menu that stood out as the best in many years, and the varied performances by a lineup of Australian Asian artists made the evening both culturally proud and unforgettable! - Heidi Han, ex-journalist at SBS and The Australian If you missed our Annual Dinner 2023, rest assured next year we will be back with yet another enchanting evening to celebrate every unique individual in our multicultural community! Check our Events page for more activities, and if you are not a part of AMSA yet, why not consider joining? AMSA embraces diversity by extending its membership to individuals of Singaporean and Malaysian heritage, to become part of our association. Our primary focus is to provide exceptional value to our members and sponsors, organising well-attended events that leave a lasting impression. Our diverse range of activities, including makan events, sports, meet and mingle sessions, cultural events, and the highly anticipated AMSA Annual Dinner, are greatly appreciated by our members and friends. AMSA strives to create a welcoming environment that feels like home for everyone involved. Australian Malaysian Singaporean Awards 2024 AMSA is excited to announce our upcoming Australian Malaysian Singaporean Awards in 2024. Anyone of Malaysian or Singaporean diaspora, or Australian persons with Malaysian/Singaporean heritage or affiliation are eligible. Organisations must have a registered ABN and have a business relationship or affiliation with Malaysia or Singapore. Here are the six categories of the awards: 1. Individual Individual contribution to bi-lateral relationship 2. Organisation Organisational contribution to bi-lateral relationship 3. Female Leader Recognise the achievements for female leadership 4. Community Service Organisational community impact to disadvantaged minorities 5. Young Professional Professional or academic under 35 years of age 6. Innovation & Partnerships New or existing business introducing new process or service Judging and Voting AMSA will select a public panel of judges to shortlist the top finalists. The panel will consist of Public, Private and NGO sector leaders and representatives. The finalist details will be shared. AMSA will then open up to 50% public voting to allow AMSA members and judges, to select winners. Winners of each award will be announced at the official AMSA Annual Dinner 2024. Our key sponsors will distribute prizes to winners live. AMSA eagerly anticipates receiving submissions from the numerous talented individuals and organisations within our communities who embody the values of Friendship, Multiculturalism, and Excellence. We believe that everyone has unique contributions to offer, and these awards serve as a significant recognition of the dedication, skills, and abilities that are propelling our communities towards greatness. Watch out for the launch of the Australian Malaysian Singaporean Awards 2024 Media contact: Veronica Lind Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and remember to tag us @amsainc
- We are getting ready for AMSA Annual Dinner 2023!
✦ Tickets for AMSA's Annual Dinner 2023 at the Accor Stadium are sold out! History repeats itself indeed as we see this year's Annual Dinner 2023 so warmly received by everyone that tickets were sold out. In as much as we are touched that so many are keen to come celebrate with is, we also wish we could accommodate everyone. AMSA's Annual Dinner is an important event for us, and the sheer organisation of all the logistics has taken us many months. It is always such a lift to our spirits to receive a recognition of support from people around us. Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC Governor of New South Wales sent us this beautiful letter, and it gave us a big boost to our spirits as we take the last sprint to finish preparing for our big day! Read the letter from Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC Governor of New South Wales Celebrating Friendship, Multiculturalism & Excellence and Australia's 50 years of Multiculturalism The AMSA Annual Dinner aligns with Australia's 50 years of Multiculturalism. We can't wait to see everyone on November 4th, where we can get together and raise a toast to our beautiful connections. Sponsors This dinner would not have been possible if we didn't have the incredible support of our sponsors. Thank you to: Singapore Global Network (Main Sponsor) Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (Partner Sponsor) Phillip Au & Associates (Partner Sponsor) iPAN Property International (Partner Sponsor) The Grace Hotel Sydney (Dinner Sponsor) Scape Student Living (Dinner Sponsor) Medibank (Dinner Sponsor) Brilliant-Online (Media Sponsor) Accor Hotels (Accommodation Sponsor) Bunnamagoo (Wine Sponsor) Media contact: Veronica Lind Join us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and remember to tag us @amsainc
- Audra Morrice is curating the menu for AMSA's Annual Dinner 2023
✦ Making beautiful connections through food Get ready to be thrilled because we've got some electrifying news to share with you! We are thrilled to reveal that the culinary sensation, Audra Morrice will be the creative genius behind our sensational annual dinner menu tapping into her Malaysian and Singaporean roots! About Audra Morrice But Audra Morrice, a household name renowned for her spectacular journey as a finalist in the nail-biting competition of MasterChef Australia in 2012 and currently as one of the esteemed trio of judges on the exhilarating MasterChef Singapore, is now gracing us with her culinary prowess. But that's not all! Audra Morrice isn't just a TV personality; this chef isan author of two cookbooks, an advocate for sustainable gastronomic tourism with the Pacific Asia Travel Association, a board member on the Australian-ASEAN Council and a culinary artist with her very own cooking series, "Tasty Conversations," which has taken the food world by storm. This delectable show airs on the illustrious SBS Food Network, where Audra whips up mouthwatering dishes and engages in captivating culinary dialogues that leave us all craving for more. So, brace yourselves for an unforgettable gastronomic experience, because Audra Morrice is about to take us on a thrilling and delectable journey through flavours that will leave your taste buds dancing with excitement. Australia's 50 years of Multiculturalism The AMSA Annual Dinner aligns with Australia's 50 years of Multiculturalism. AMSA is inviting you to join us at the AMSA Annual Dinner 2023. This year's event celebrates our friendship, multiculturalism, and excellence, where we can raise a toast to the beautiful connections we've made. This is a special time of the year where we get together to appreciate and acknowledge the difference each of us has made to AMSA as a whole, and to our proudly Australian community. We would love for you to join us in paying tribute to our ever-growing friendship, beautiful multiculturalism and inspirational excellence! Last year was a sell out weeks before the event. We don't want you to be disappointed so get your tickets NOW! Sponsors Thank you to iPAN Property International and Brilliant-Online for sponsoring our Annual Dinner 2023. Check out sponsorship details here. Media contact: Thomson Ch'ng Join us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and remember to tag us @amsainc
- Q&A with Sam Lim, Federal Member for Tangney (Western Australia)
✦ This article is an abstract from Brilliant-Online Magazine when CEO Veronica Lind asked Sam what his wish was for Australians in 2023 Sunday 11th December 2022 AMSA organised a Q&A session with Sam Lim MP, born in Johor, Malaysia, a Federal Member for Tangney (Western Australia) representing The Hon Andrew Giles MP, the Australian Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. When you listen to Sam Lim, you'll feel at home right away. This is a man who has both his feet firmly planted on the earth and loves being surrounded by real people and the community. The Q&A session seemed more like a family gathering with lots of laughter. These were some of the topics covered. Cost of Living For Sam, the top task in the government is to control the cost of living, something we all feel. Prices get higher, salaries remain frozen. The Australian government has plans to help control the cost of living, and their task is made difficult because of debts and poor management of expenses in the past. Conditions of Refugees As a police officer, Sam has had a lot of first hand contact with refugees. Sam has seen their suffering, the problems they have with visas, renewals and not being able to leave the country. They do not get to see their families for years. Sam did his part to help refugees by pooling together his contacts, putting refugees under temporary protection visa and he went to see the Prime Minister to persuade him to help the refugees. We await what we hope would be good news to make the situation of refugees better soon. Anti-corruption Sam has been in the police force in Australia for almost 16 years and what really impressed him was how there was zero corruption there. The Australian Police Force is transparent, full of integrity and can be trusted, which is a luxury not all countries necessarily have. In spite of being in politics, Sam joked that he himself did not trust politicians, which is why his first aim when he entered politics was to bring about anti-corruption. Thanks to the efforts of the Albanese Government, an Anti-Corruption law is now in place against corruption. Video courtesy of AUST333 Going many extra miles Sam appreciates the fact that as a member of parliament he can now do more for the people. He sees himself as a politician doing the work for the whole of Australia and not just where he is based. Sam tries to make a difference wherever he goes, as a police officer or as an MP. As a police officer, he created a Chinese social media account as a platform to translate information for non-English speaking people. He spent endless hours answering their questions and sharing the answers with everyone on the platform. He did that for five years and even the Vietnamese community started doing the same thing for their language. Raising the bar Sam is dedicated to serving the people and he makes himself available to people who have an issue to bring up. He is quick to give out his contact details so people can get in touch with him. It is his way of truly listening to the people and understanding what is really going on at ground level. His staff are as committed as Sam and they work very hard. With a leader that driven and keen on his cause, it would be difficult not to feel the same passion. Sam is aware that what he is doing is not common. But he wants to raise the bar, to set the benchmark, leaving behind this legacy so the next MP in line can do even better. More than well loved Since being an MP, Sam has been a very well-known and well-loved figure where he is. He has had people in shopping centres come up to him to shake his hand and take a few proud selfies. He can clearly feel the warmth from the people where he goes. For Sam, there's no better feeling than this. He works for everyone. He is ready to help, whether someone is a citizen or not, it's always been a simple 'How can we help you?'. This has earned him the respect of a wide variety of communities. Be they Caucasians, Malaysians, Chinese, Singaporeans, Taiwanese, Indonesians, Indians, Arabs and Asians, they all know Sam's name and smiling face. His communities support him, because he has from the very beginning supported them. Anti war It is no surprise then, that Sam has an anti-war approach to things. He has heard his grandparents recount their suffering during the Japanese occupation and that was more than enough to convince Sam that war is definitely not the way to go. His son joined the Navy and is a Submariner. Sam knows there is no way he is sending his son or anyone's sons to a war anywhere. Many of the refugees Sam has spoken to have come from conflict in their homeland, where the origin has not necessarily been from there but from an external intervention. Sam does not believe in encouraging war. Yes there are many problems internationally and some we may not be able to solve immediately, but many of these can be solved by listening. For Sam, listening helps parties find alternative ways of doing things. By listening, he can create an open conversation as opposed to shying away from the problem and repressing it. It is not every day that we are afforded the chance to get up close and personal and hear an MP share his experiences and thoughts so close to his heart. Sam is clearly an all round nice guy, but what gets people respecting and trusting him is how he stands his ground in an area as tricky and complicated as politics. He shows that one can have a kind heart and still be firm in standing by one's values. Media contact at AMSA: Veronica Lind Join us on Facebook for the latest news and remember to tag us @amsainc
- People of Malaysian and Singaporean heritage in Australia celebrated with AMSA
AMSA celebrated 185 years of Migration History with a dinner on 10th December 2022 This year, AMSA's annual event theme to celebrate and honour every person of Malaysian and Singaporean heritage living in Australia could not be more befitting as we recognised the community and businesses for their contributions to building our nation, Australia. Tickets for the dinner were sold out a month before. For that we thank you to all AMSA members, guests and business leaders who attended. The event was graced by several government officials and community leaders: Sam Lim MP (Born in Johor, Malaysia) Federal Member for Tangney (Western Australia) representing the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Australian Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Cr Robert Kok (Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) Councillor, City of Sydney representing the Lord Mayor Dora Tan (Born in Singapore) Regional Director (Australian New Zealand), Singapore Global Network, Singapore Economic Development Board Michael Growder Former Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia (Currently A/g First Assistant Secretary, Climate Diplomacy and Development Finance Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Community Leaders Christina Chia (President, Asian Australian Family Association) Lucinda Chan (National President, Hong-Kong Australia Business Association (HKABA) Sawathey Ek (Founder, Australia - Southeast Asia Network) Josep Rustam (President, Indonesia Business Council Australia) We heard stories from the speakers about their commitment to a new life that has become a part of the rich tapestry of Australia's history. Each and every one of them has shaped the history of Australia. Thank you Partners! AMSA as a non-profit organisation is always thankful to our partners who have been working with us to connect communities and businesses, and for making this event a very memorable one. Major Partners - Phillip Au & Associates, a leading migration agent in Australia since 1994. - nib who provides health and medical insurance to over 1.5 million Australian and New Zealand residents. Venue Partner - It was the perfect decision to hold our event at The Australian National Maritime Museum that hosts the Australia's National Monument to Migration, one of the museum's flagship creations which wraps and weaves acknowledgement, commemoration, celebration and interpretation of migrant histories into an exposition of identity. - Offer from Museum: The Museum would also like to offer a 20% discount* on full price items at their store https://store.anmm.gov.au. Please use the promo code AMSA2023 valid until 15th January 2023. *excludes LEGO merchandise and the National Monument to Migration Supporting Partner - Macquarie Group, a global financial services group operating in 34 markets with over 25 years of commitment in Malaysia and Singapore. Macquarie Group is the No.1 ranked issuer of listed structured warrants in Malaysia and Singapore and is active in raising equity capital for mid-cap Bursa listed companies. Dinner Partner - Austlink Education Group, an international education consulting company providing study abroad, immigration and employment services. AMSA’s events have always been promising but AMSA annual dinner 2022 was next level! The food, programs, inspirational speeches, networking opportunities and the raffle prizes are phenomenal. It was also extremely meaningful and sentimental to have held at the Australian National Maritime Museum in conjunction with 185 years of Malaysian Singaporean migration history in Australia! - Jimmy Lim, Marketing Director of Austlink Education Group Media Partner - Brilliant-Online has been instrumental in bringing AMSA's stories to our community. Its interactive content in the Brilliant Magazine is similar to the magical Daily Prophet newspaper of the Harry Potter books and films. A big thank you also to our Raffle Prize Sponsors who donated more than $4,000 worth of prizes - nib, AYAM, Phillip Au & Associates, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, The Grace Sydney, Ho Jiak Town Hall, Sydney Kopitiam Cafe, Peranakan Place, Ipoh Dynasty, PappaRich Brookfield Place, Just Go Shop, My Blue Tea, Uniqstar Clothing Alterations Westfield, Astro3 and Malay Malay. AMSA's three strategic pillars Thomson Ch'ng, President of AMSA provided a historical background of AMSA, what it is today and more importantly, the vision of AMSA in the future. There has been an increase in the number of younger members with roots from Malaysia and Singapore and who are now living, working or operating a business in Australia. This shift calls for new actions from AMSA which resulted in three strategic pillars. A clear indication of AMSA's expansion and outreach is the establishment of its state networks in Victoria, Queensland and Northern Territory. 1. Advocacy and Empowerment AMSA is committed to giving those of Malaysian and Singaporean heritage a voice in Australian society. Earlier in February 2022, AMSA organised a Q&A with the Malaysian Department of Immigration in Australia to provide a platform for people to get clarifications on immigration and passport issues. It was a helpful source of information for issues related to renewals, applications or extensions. 2. Professional and Social Networking To become an effective platform to develop professional, business and personal social networks. AMSA members and guests can expect more events that bring together networking, social activities and of course, as always, excellent makan! No AMSA activity is complete without the presence of amazing Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine. 3. Community Engagement and Support AMSA has been actively reaching out and engaging with the community via events and webinars such as assisting new migrants to settle into the country by providing accurate and relevant information about living, working, studying or doing business in Australia. Talking about food and culture We had a royal treat from Chef Jackie M who curated our Peranakan, Nonya Cuisine at the dinner! 1) Nasi Ulam - steamed rice tossed with mixed herbs and toasted coconut, and garnished with crispy fried shallots and mild chilli sambal 2) Nyonya Kapitan Chicken - mild chicken curry with coconut cream, lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, garlic, onion, chilli and kaffir lime leaves 3) Roasted Lamb cutlet, Root Vegetable Cous cous salad, minted Yoghurt 4) Seared fillet of Snapper, sauteed Rappini, salsa Putanesca GF/DF 5) Bubur cha cha - sweet potato and taro in coconut sauce and palm sugar Traditional Indian and Malay Dance Performances by Shuba Bala and Ijann Ali endorsed the multiculturalism of Australia. A batik theme was woven into the entire Migration Celebration marketing campaign and the message was to encourage people of Malaysian and Singaporean heritage living in Australia to celebrate our migration journey together. The campaign brought about a united engagement amongst the community, businesses, community groups, Federal, State and Local government departments and agencies. “Brilliant organisation of AMSA's Annual Dinner 2022 resulted in a first-class event. The venue had high ceilings; large round tables with familiar names such as Seremban and Ang Mo Kio; waiters in black serving drinks and Jackie M’s food; 9:00 pm fireworks; evening programme to capture one’s attention; Federal lower house MP Sam Lim (former Malaysian policeman) gracing the event; inter-state convenors attending the dinner; and President Thomson Ch’ng officially announcing the Three Strategic Pillars as guidance and impetus for future AMSA activities. The Dinner was a special event to remember for years to come” - Jeffrey Lee, AMSA President (1994-1997) If you have a comment or testimonial about this celebration or dinner event, please send them to contact@amsa.com.au Honour a migrant As mentioned by Assistant Director Richard Wesley, the National Monument to Migration at the Australian National Maritime Museum is one of the most important and visible tributes to our migration heritage. It features over 32,000 names from 138 countries including 152 that have been identified as being from a Malaysian or Singaporean background. You can honour your migration heritage – your family, friends, ancestors or yourself on the National Monument to Migration at www.sea.museum/nationalmonument. Your tax-deductible donation helps celebrate Australia's diverse migrant heritage. Register by 22 December to be part of the next unveiling ceremony. Details on how you can Add a Name to the Monument - https://www.amsa.com.au/post/how-you-can-add-your-name-on-the-national-monument-of-migration For further information go to www.sea.museum/support/national-monument Migration Stories is the Museum's new digital experience dedicated to migration. Faces of Migration is the first stage of the digital platform that will be continually updated with new stories to create a centre of migration storytelling. You can visit this new experience at lab.sea.museum/migration and everyone is invited to share these stories on their social media channels. See you next year! Media contact at AMSA: Veronica Lind Join us on Facebook for the latest news and remember to tag us @amsainc
- Makan and great food bring Malaysians and Singaporeans together!
As featured in Brilliant-Online Magazine, July 2022 issue AMSA has a new direction ahead, exciting value propositions, and great food as always! Since 1970, the Australian Malaysian Singaporean Association Inc (AMSA) has been bringing Malaysians and Singaporeans living in Australia together to network and socialise. Last year we celebrated our 50th anniversary and we are so proud of how we have been growing through the years, and how our membership is all encompassing to include all nationalities! An uplifting shift has been happening - we are seeing an increase in the number of younger members with roots from Malaysia and Singapore and who are now living, working or operating a business in Australia. As AMSA continues to grow and welcome new members, our love for makan continues and it is still our common passion that unites us! Looking to the future We concluded our 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 28th June 2022 with incumbent Thomson Ch'ng re-elected as President for the second term. AMSA has been coming up with New Strategic Pillars as we step ahead into the future. These include: Advocacy and empowerment Professional and Social Networking Community engagement and support "This year's AGM was particularly special. Members who have attended the meeting have actively contributed ideas on ways to enhance AMSA's future operation and initiatives',' said Thomson Ch'ng, President-elect of AMSA 2022/23. "As an organisation that is run by the community, for the community, an active and engaged membership allows bottom-up communication, including feedback to the executive committee. It's a key ingredient of success for us as an organisation.” We are also celebrating AMSA's expansion and outreach to Victoria and Queensland. Victoria is where the largest number of Malaysians and Singaporeans reside. Victorian Convenor is Donny Doughty. Queensland is led by Queensland Convenors Sylvia Tiong and Debb Seven Chew. Wherever you go, if you smell good makan, hear lots of lively chatter and laughter, you can be sure AMSA is close. And it's a place to call home where you can find support and connection with fellow Malaysians and Singaporeans right here in Australia. AMSA's new committee 2022/2023 President: Thomson Ch'ng Vice President: Wan Hoe Goh Hon. Secretary: Nerisa Chan Hon. Treasurer: Sue-Ann Liew Committee Members: Janson Lim, Dr. Yeow-Tong Chia, Veronica Lind, Khin Yew Chong, Julian Choo, Michelle Ng Victoria Network Convenor: Donny Doughty Queensland Network Convenors: Sylvia Tiong and Debb Seven Chew
- How you can add your name on the National Monument of Migration
AMSA is celebrating 185 years of Migration History! We are honouring Malaysian and Singaporean immigrants and their contributions to building our nation, Australia. Migrants have helped shape the history of Australia, and their stories, lives and commitment to a new life have become a part of the rich tapestry of Australia's history. The Australian Malaysian Singaporean Association Inc (AMSA) and the Australian National Maritime Museum have come together to celebrate our amazing migration history with Brilliant-Online Magazine as their media partner and Phillip Au & Associates as major sponsor. Honour a migrant The Australian National Maritime Museum is hosting Australia's National Monument to Migration, one of the museum's flagship creations which wraps and weaves acknowledgement, commemoration, celebration and interpretation of migrant histories into an exposition of identity. This is a huge wall that features the names of more than 31,000 migrants from 136 countries including 114 from Malaysia and 40 from Singapore. AMSA members and guests were invited to a Zoom call on Wednesday 26 October 2022 with the Museum to acknowledge, commemorate, celebrate and interpret all the migrant histories into an exposition of identity. Speakers were Tina Koutsogiannis from the Museum and Thomson Ch'ng, President of AMSA. Listen to the recording below. Adding a Name to the Monument and More If you have immigrants among your circle of friends, or whose families were immigrants, why not get curious about their stories and experiences? And if there is someone you wish to honour, the Museum is now accepting names for the next panel on the Monument with a donation of $500. The next closing date is 22 December, 2022. As an acknowledgement of your tax-deductible gift of $500, your name, or the name of a family member, relative, co-worker or friend will be etched in bronze onto the museum's Australia’s National Monument to Migration in recognition of their journey across the seas to make Australia their new home. The $500 donation goes to the Migration Heritage Fund. It is part of the Museum's ongoing commitment to telling Australia's migration stories. A brief biographical note will be published on the Museum's website. Right now, the Museum is collecting a selection of stories from all of these names. A compilation of all these names is a way to tell the story of modern Australia. To acknowledge your support, you will receive: A personal inscription in bronze on Australia's National Monument to Migration. Donors can contribute a brief story about the person being honoured. This dedicated online profile page can have a maximum of 3000 characters with a maximum of 10 photos and can be securely managed and shared with friends and family. Research functionality: search other names who may have arrived via the same vessel / time. Exclusive invitation to a donor recognition ceremony for new inscriptions on the National Monument. The next ceremony will be held in May 2023. A tax-deductible receipt. For further information go to www.sea.museum/support/national-monument The Celebration continues with AMSA's Annual Dinner We will be holding our Annual Dinner at the Australian National Maritime Museum and we invite everyone to journey through the past, present and future with us. It will be a special night of Migration Stories, in honour of Malaysian and Singaporean immigrants and their contribution to building our nation. And here's a royal treat if you can come - we have invited Chef Jackie M to curate our Peranakan, Nonya Cuisine at the dinner! Date: Saturday 10th December 6pm Venue: Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray St, Sydney NSW 2000 (Darling Harbour) If you are travelling into Sydney, you can contact these hotels directly and arrange for your accommodation. – The Grace Sydney, 77 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia Phone: +612 9272 6888 – The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, 1 Martin Pl, Sydney NSW 2000 Phone: +612 8223 1111 Media contact at AMSA: Veronica Lind Join us on Facebook for the latest news and remember to tag us @amsainc
- Free Information Session On The Australia's National Monument To Migration
Zoom in to Celebrate 185 years Migration History with AMSA and the Australian National Maritime Museum The Australian Malaysian Singaporean Association Inc (AMSA) has long been the voice and trusted community network for Malaysians and Singaporeans living in Australia. This year, in collaboration with the Australian National Maritime Museum (the Museum), we celebrate 185 years of migration of Malaysians and Singaporeans to Australia. We invite AMSA members and guests to a Zoom call on Wednesday 26 October at 5pm with the Museum who is hosting Australia’s National Monument to Migration to acknowledge, commemorate, celebrate and interpret all the migrant histories into an exposition of identity. The Monument is a huge wall featuring the names of more than 31,000 migrants from 136 countries including 111 from Malaysia and 39 from Singapore. It is a celebration of the diversity of Australia through the years. During this Zoom call, we will provide you with more information on the National Monument to Migration. Date: Wednesday 26 October at 5pm via Zoom Location Online Event Zoom link will be sent to your email address upon registration
- Deepavali The Festival of Lights
Join the Australian Malaysian Singaporean Community in celebrating Deepavali 2022 - The Festival of Lights! Deepavali, or Diwali is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. The celebration of Diwali symbolizes the spiritual ‘victory of light over darkness, ‘good over evil‘, and ‘knowledge over ignorance'. Let us celebrate the festival with the wonders of Indian cuisine while promoting harmony and multiculturalism. Deepavali Buffet Menu 2022 1. Unlimited drink supplies (Coke, Sprites and Fanta) 2. Entrees Samosa (half Vegeterian/half Meat) Garden Salad Cucumber Yoghurt 3. Main Butter Chicken Lamb Rogan Josh Chicken Tikka Masala Paneer Palak (with Spanish) – (Vegetarian) Mushroom & Pea 4. Unlimited Basmati Rice and Naan (original & garlic) 5. 2 types of Malaysian/ Singapore kuih desserts This event is proudly organised by the Australian Malaysian Singaporean Association Inc. (AMSA). For more information or enquiries, please contact Sylvia and Debb at qld@amsa.com.au Refund Policy Refunds are available up to 7 days prior to the event Date Sat 22nd Oct 2022, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm AEST Location Mirchi Indian Restaurant 4/6 S Pine Rd, Alderley QLD 4051, Australia
- Guest Opinion: What is the history of the Australian Malaysian Singaporean Association?
Updated on 17th May 2023: Vale Dr Anthony Pun OAM Here is the history of AMSA as remembered by Dr Anthony Pun OAM Advocacy/Commentator Public Policies & Geopolitics Historical Background Historically, the Malaysian Singaporean Students Association (MSSA) was the root organization that developed into the Australian Malaysian Singaporean Association Inc. (AMSA). At that time, the; leadership went to Ms Shen Mao, a student at the UNSW. They were several activists in the group, and they used to congregate at Meek Street, Kingsford and they were students at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), specialising mid-night mahjong sessions during the weekend. At that time, a newsletter was published under the editorship of the late Mr Jimmy Kok Yuen Sen (Malaysia), a Colombo Plan scholar (with 8As in Senior Cambridge) who graduated in 1969 as a Food Technologist (Hons) at UNSW. The author used to drive up to Parramatta with Jim in his old VW to pick up the magazine for distribution. ‘ The delegation led by Dr Shen Mao to visit Chief Commissioner Vernon Trent took place in Winter at the Sydney Town Hall. Most of the students were from the UNSW and only 3 remained in Sydney after graduation (Dr Anthony Pun, KC Fu and Dr CK Wong, to the left of Dr Shen). After the visit, Commissioner Trent gave each delegate a free pass to the finals of the NSW Football League which was won by South Sydney Juniors in 1968. This was the first taste of the great Australia culture, the football. Ms Shen Mao, after graduation, returned to Singapore to take up a teaching post at Nanyang University in Singapore. The second highlight was to arrange for the Malaysian High Commission to brief us on the May 13th 1969 incident in Malaysia. The next development was the formalising the MSSA, officially combining both student groups from Malaysia and Singapore in around 1970. In 1974, MSSA changed its name to Malaysian Singapore Association (MSA) when the student organization evolved into a community organization with more family migration from Singapore and Malaysia joining in. Under the leadership of Dr Kit Sun Lau (affectionately known as KS – medical practice at Macquarie Street, Sydney) in the late 1980s, MSA flourished. In the early 1980s, many community organisations started to add a prefix “Australian” in their organisation’s name to show that they were loyal Australians. Hence, in 1990, the organization again changed its name to Australian Malaysian Singaporean Association (AMSA) to reflect the sentiments of the day. The Dilemma In the 1980s and beyond, many Malaysian & Singapore residents of Chinese descent joined the Australian Chinese Community Association (ACCA) and later the Australian Chinese Forum. The Forum later changed its name of Chinese Australian Forum (CAF). These organisations then provided the representation and advocacy for Chinese Australian interests. Hence, AMSA did not developed into a representative body fighting for the rights of the Chinese in Australia nor did AMSA vitalised or championed any issues relating to the country of birth. Consequently, those Chinese Australians interested in public and social justice issues (including anti-racism) jumped ship to both ACCA and CAF. Consequently, AMSA developed into a community social group whose interests were Singaporean and Malaysian cultures and a yearning for home. As Singapore and Malaysia were “multi-racial” nations, it was not possible for AMSA to represent only the Australian’s interest of the Chinese and not the Malays or Indians. For the same reason, it was not possible for AMSA to be aligned with other Chinese organisations in Australia. nor to be friendly with the diplomatic staff of the PRC or Taiwan. At that time, the membership of AMSA was predominantly ethnic Chinese and some Indians and a few Malays. There are many Indian organisations in Australia, and AMSA was not able to represent the interests of the Indian Australians. With the above circumstances affecting the organization, most Singaporean members joined the Singapore government recognized organization “Temasek” for social and cultural activities and a dialogue with their “home” government. In contrast, AMSA did not have strong relations with the Malaysian diplomatic staff. AMSA development continued under the leadership of Frank Keh, Jeffrey Lee, Shirley Ng, Dr Bin Yap, Daniel Kwan, Evelyn Tian, Elvan Tong, Juliana Jamal, Peter Wong, Ooi Hock Lim, Lim Teik Hock, Cheryl Seeto etc.(not in chronological order). With stiff competition from ACCA, CAF and Temasek, AMSA began to evolve from a community social club into a business club and the membership was open to all Australians and took up the multicultural characteristics when Ms Seeto, an ethnic Chinese of PNG background, became the President. The Future - view point from Dr Anthony Pun In order to maintain this Malaysian Singaporean flavour, AMSA must maintain ties with the immigrants from Malaysia and Singapore, promote the cultures of both countries and maintain a warm relation with the diplomatic staff of both nations. Another way to maintain its Singaporean/Malaysian characteristics is to reach out to founding members of MSSA and offer them Life Membership or Hon Life Members. [Author:] The late Dr Anthony Pun, OAM, founding member of MSSA and a Committee member under Dr KS Lau (MSA). Previous positions: Chair, Multicultural Communities Council of NSW Inc., National President, Chinese Community Council of Australia Inc. and President, Australian Health Reform Association Inc. 17th May 2023: Vale Dr Anthony Pun OAM The Australian Malaysian Singaporean Association Inc. (AMSA) executive committee is saddened by the passing of Dr. Anthony Pun OAM. Born in Malaysia, Dr Pun moved to Australia in 1964. After gaining a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of New South Wales, he became chief research scientist at St. Vincent’s Hospital, serving in that role for 19 years. Dr Pun spent a big part of his life advocating for the multicultural community in Australia. He is someone who would tell it as it is. He founded many organisations to advocate for and empower the multicultural communities in NSW and across the country. His contribution to the community was recognised by various government and community leaders. He was actively involved in the Malaysian Singaporean groups in the 1970s and 1980s as he recorded the history of AMSA (formerly Malaysian Singaporean Association MSA) based on his recollections. We send our condolences to his wife Juliana, sons Leon, Andrew and family. Rest in Peace, Dr Anthony Pun. Photos: left Dr Anthony Pun (Photo credit: APAC News) right Dr Anthony Pun (2nd from left) enjoying his last meal at AMSA JOM Makan on 17th May 2023
- Jom Makan & Networking with TalentCorp Malaysia in Melbourne
If you are looking to network with other Malaysian professionals, please come join us in this free Jom Makan event with TalentCorp Malaysia. Breakfast will be served at the event at no cost. TalentCorp, through the newly launched MyNetwork initiative wishes to connect and build relationships with Malaysian Diaspora in Australia. If you are a Malaysian or interested to work in Malaysia, we encourage you to attend this event. Spaces are limited, please hurry and register here. Registration is required for this event. Non-members are welcomed to come along too. Date: Saturday, 10th September 2022 9am - 11am AEST Location Pondok Rempah Halal Indonesian Restaurant, 487 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3004
- Jom Kopi! Spring Edition (Afternoon Tea and Networking)
“Jom Kopi” and spend a relaxing Saturday afternoon with us for networking, served with authentic Malaysian and Singaporean style dishes. The word “Jom” is a Malay slang which carries the meaning of “let’s go". TICKET PRICE $20 per person (AMSA member) $25 per person (Non member) Capacity is limited. Registration is essential Organised by: For more information about the Australian Malaysian Singaporean Association Inc. (AMSA), visit www.amsa.com.au Refund Policy Refunds are available up to 1 day prior to the event Date: Sat 8th Oct 2022, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm AEDT Location Medibank - Docklands 720 Bourke St, Docklands VIC 3008, Australia