Goledzinowski (left) and Taib making toasts to the monarch of each other’s countries during the formalities at the Australia Day celebration in conjunction with Goledzinowski’s first official visit to Sarawak.

KUCHING: The new Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Andrew Goledzinowski pledged to take Australia and Sarawak’s relationship to the next level in his term.

Speaking during an Australia Day dinner here on Sunday night, Goledzinowski said that he was making it a personal goal to promote Sarawak to his fellow countrymen.

“Thousands of Australians visited Sarawak last year and it is a personal goal of mine to increase the numbers,” he said, adding he had been tweeting photos of his trip to Sarawak ever since he arrived earlier in the week.

He will continue touring the state this week, visiting World War 2 graves and finishing off with a personal trip to Mulu.

The gathering, entitled ‘Think Australia in Kuching’, is the second time the Australian High Commission in Malaysia celebrated Australia Day outside of their country, with the first taking place in Kuala Lumpur.

It was also held in conjunction with Goledzinowski’s first official visit to Sarawak. He was accompanied by his wife Lynn Allen. During his speech, Goledzinowski pointed out that there is unlimited potential for collaboration.

“Not just in education, but in oil and gas, in goods and agriculture, in vocational and higher education training, in STEM and health care,” he said.

He added that they have already brought in their leading science communicator to visit both KL and Kuching, after learning that Sarawak is serious about innovation and technical
scientific education of the young people. Australia recently issued a foreign policy white paper on Australia’s vision of our relationship with South East Asia and Malaysia right in the centre of their vision.

“We know that this is a region of change and uncertainty, where the big powers are rubbing up against each other in ways that we haven’t seen before. Countries like Malaysia and Australia have to stick together,” he said.

Also present was Sarawak head-of-state Pehin Sri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, who reminisced about his time in Australia,

“Australia is a neighbour who understands us and whom we understand very well. It’s a warm country in sense of emotional relationship,” he said.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Jemut Masing, Honorary Consul for Australia in Sarawak Datuk Dr Phillip Ting, and other guests.