Nearly 2,000 people turned up to celebrate the official opening ceremony of Wawasan Open University’s main campus – Penang’s newest educational landmark. The campus grounds came alive with the hustle and bustle of activity as university staff began welcoming a deluge of guests.
CHOY PAIK LIN (LIBRARY) AND PENANG REGIONAL OFFICE DIRECTOR K MANOHARAN WELCOMING GUESTS.
ARRIVING FOR THE OPENING.
WOU VICE CHANCELLOR PROF GAJARAJ DHANARAJAN WELCOMES WOU COUNCIL CHAIRMAN DATO’ SERI DR LIM KENG YAIK.
DR LIM WITH WOU CHANCELLOR TUN DR LIM CHONG EU.
FROM LEFT: DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR (OPERATIONS) DR SEAH SOO AUN, PROF DHANARAJAN, TUN LIM, DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR (ACADEMIC) PROF WONG TAT MENG, AND ETP DIRECTOR GRACE LAU.
The colonial Homestead mansion, generously offered by the Yeap Chor Ee Charitable and Endowment Trusts, painted a majestic sight with its whitewashed walls and awe-inspiring architecture. Behind it, the Albukhary building stood 12-storeys tall with its glistening-blue glass façade reflecting the splendour of the Homestead mansion and azure skies.
PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA DATUK SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI ARRIVES.
TAN SRI DR KOH TSU KOON GIVING HIS SPEECH.
ABDULLAH CONGRATULATES WOU AND ANNOUNCES THE GOVERNMENT’S SUPPORT OF RM20 MILLION FOR THE UNIVERSITY.
VIPS TOUCH THE WOU VISION CRYSTAL TO TRIGGER THE EMERGENCE OF A REPLICA OF WOU MAIN CAMPUS BUILDING FROM THE TREASURE CHEST.
ABDULLAH SIGNS THE COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE TO OFFICIATE THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW CAMPUS.
DR LIM PRESENTS ABDULLAH AND YEAP EACH WITH A SOUVENIR PAINTING DEPICTING THE MAIN CAMPUS BUILDING.
The VVIPs proceeded to the Homestead mansion, where a ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the entrance. Dhanarajan then led the dignitaries to the photo exhibition at the WOU gallery.
Ushers welcomed the Prime Minister and his entourage as they entered the Albukhary Building to commence a tour of the library. Director of Learning and Library Services Kamsiah Mohd Ali was on hand to welcome and brief the entourage on the facilities and services available at the library.
They were then ushered to WOU’s Lecture Theatre II to attend a press conference, after which the Prime Minister and the VVIP dignitaries departed for another function.
WOU staff and students gathered to wave goodbye as the Prime Minister and his entourage left the campus grounds.
