It may be recalled that in his Presidential visit to Malaysia in April 2005, President Nathan visited the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur to be briefed on the centennial celebrations by the University and the National University of Singapore and the exchange of students and staff between the two universities. The two universities share a common heritage, with roots going back to the Medical School founded some one hundred years ago at Sepoy Lines near Outram Road. The universities renewed their connection with the signing of an agreement on 26 July 2005 to formalize joint programmes to be offered to students and staff. Under the agreement, students in architecture, arts and social sciences can spend time on both the NUS campus and the UM campus in Kuala Lumpur. Architecture students can attend seminars on both campuses and do fieldwork together, while arts and social sciences students can attend joint classes on, among others, Singapore and Malaysian literature. UM will offer a scholarship to an NUS student to pursue a masters or doctorate degree on its campus. UM Vice-Chancellor, Hashim Yaacob, said, “Now we have come together, we should be able to forge closer ties, not only among academic but also among our people… I hope we can exchange friendship, knowledge, build our nations together, and most important, live in peace together.”

During the same month the Law Faculties of NUS and UM had in fact come together to hold two public symposia on “Developments in Singapore and Malaysian Law”. The laws and the legal systems of the two countries have very common characteristics arising from the British colonial period. One symposium was hosted by NUS in Singapore, and the other by UM in Kuala Lumpur over two weekends. The symposia programmes highlighted legislature and judicial developments in areas of mutual interest and applicability such as commercial, criminal, international and family law. It was also an opportunity for the two faculties to strengthen ties and the academic staff to socialize and get to know each other better.