New Zealand Governor-General makes state visit to Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA: The GovernorGeneral of New Zealand, Dame Patsy Reddy, will undertake a state visit to Malaysia from today to Dec 8 at the invitation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V.

Dame Patsy would be accompanied by her spouse, David Gascoigne.

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would be Dame Patsy’s maiden visit to Malaysia since she became the Governor- General of New Zealand in September 2016.

The last state visit by a governor-general of New Zealand was by Dame Silvia Cartwright, from Sept 27 to Oct 1, 2004.

“The Governor-General’s visit to Malaysia is also to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Malaysia,” the ministry said.

Wisma Putra said Dame Patsy would be accorded with a state welcome at Parliament on Dec 6 and later in the evening, she would have an audience with Sultan Muhammad V and attend a state banquet at Istana Negara.

“The Governor- General is scheduled to tour the historic city of Melaka on Dec 7 where she will also pay a visit to Kolej Yayasan Saad, Melaka. Dame Patsy will meet with Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob over tea in the afternoon,” it said.

The ministry said the Governor- General would deliver a keynote address at the Women in Leadership Forum organised by the High Commission of New Zealand in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8.

The forum will also include a roundtable discussion involving Dame Patsy and a number of women leaders across both the public and private sectors in Malaysia. — Bernama