I was invited to attend the welcome reception for the former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on May 25th 2006, at the luxurious Akasaka Prince Hotel. He was invited to deliver a speech on the Intellectual Property issue, and then to have a brief discussion based on his long carrier both as a politician and a medical doctor. ( Well, I didn't really understand about the medical issues discussed. I'm not in that dicipline, though..)
Hmm.. brilliant, wise man. When my friends and I got the chance to have a brief chat with him and his wife, this was their advise to us:
" Work hard. Learn as much as you can. You're all our country's Intellectual Properties. The future of Malaysia is in your hands. "
I was speechless. I just don't know how to describe my feelings at that time. Astounded? Overwhelmed?
The fact is, I've never even thought of myself as one of Malaysia's Intellectual Properties. Seems like it's something so far away, way beyond my reach.
To tell you the truth, I was over excited during the reception. Not many students got the invitation, you know. Just a handful.