Mahathir Arrives in Makassar
Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA Sulsel) - Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Muhammad and his wife Siti Hasmah Binti Muhammad Ali arrived at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport here on Wednesday afternoon.
Mahathir arrived here for a two-day visit until Thursday, January 14, 2010 at the invitation of Hasanuddin University (Unhas) as a keynote speaker at an international seminar to be hosted by Hasanuddin University Alumni Association on Thursday.
On arriving at Hasanuddin airport, the Malaysian former prime minister was picked up by South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo to his official resident for a luncheon with traditional entertainment.
The seminar committee chairman Prof Abdul Razak Taha said Mahathir would be a keynote speaker with Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo and Unhas Rector Prof Idrus Paturusi at the seminar on "Democracy for People's Welfare."
According to Taha, the seminar was part of Unhas activity in an effort to formulate an ideal concept of democracy that could be applied in Indonesia.
After being formulated, the result of discussion would be launched at the 54th Unhas anniversary in October this year and to be brought to Indonesian Rectors Forum to be rediscussed.
Mahathir and his entourage arrived by a private jet plane from Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian government had put three jet planes at the disposal of its prime minister, king, and former top government officials.
Unhas Rector Idrus Paturusi said here recently that at the seminar, Mahathir would speak on Malaysia's concept of democracy and efforts to raise its ethnic Malay people to the same level of welfare as the other ethnic communities, namely the Chinese and Indians.
The seminar would be attended by around 1,500 alumni of Hasanuddin University living at home and overseas.
He said Mahathir's spirit of democracy to improve the harmony and welfare among all elements of the Malaysian public should be a good lesson for other countries.
Besides attending the seminar, Mahathir would also tour Makassar and visit historical sites such as Fort Rotterdam and Balla Lompoa in Goa district.
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