About Us
About ESU Malaysia
The English Speaking Union (‘ESU’) is an independent, non-political, educational charity with members throughout the world and branches in 50 countries. Its purpose is to promote international understanding and human achievement through the widening use of the English Language.
For millions of people throughout the world, proficiency in English is a key factor in personal and professional achievements. In this global environment, the English Language plays a pivotal role in promoting and fostering international cooperation, understanding and friendship.
Executive Council
DYMM Paduka Seri Sultan Perak Darul Ridzuan Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-Lah
ESU Patron
- D.K., D.K.S.A., D.K.A., D.M.N., D.K. (Kelantan),
- D.K. (Selangor),
- D.K.N.S, D.K. (Perlis),
- D.K (Kedah),
- D.K 1 (Johor),
- D.K. (Pahang), PhD (Harvard).
Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Dara Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah Binti Tuanku Ja’afar
Chairman
Tunku Dara holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics/Political Science from the American University in Cairo. She is a director of a number of companies, including Syarikat Pesaka Antah (SPA). She is also a Governor of Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar in Pajam, Negeri Sembilan, a private British style boarding school. In 1980, she established the first local finishing school, Ecole de Belle Jeunesse, which provides personal development courses. She is Chairman of Tuanku Najihah Foundation (TNF) and President of the Kuala Lumpur Speakers’ Club (KLSC) as well as founding Chairman of English Speaking Union Malaysia (ESUM). She was President of the Ladies Football Association of Malaysia. Her aims and aspirations are to see women improving their lot in society, business and sport.
YM Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda
Vice Chairman
Raja Arshad is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. He is also a member of the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants and served on its council for 24 years, including three years as its President. Raja Arshad is presently, inter alia, a director of Maxis Berhad & Ekuiti Nasional Berhad, Yayasan Amir, Yayasan Raja Muda Selangor and Yayasan DayaDiri. He is also the Chancellor of University Selangor. He was formerly Executive Chairman of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”) Malaysia, Chairman of the Malaysian Accounting Standards Board and Danamodel Nasional Berhad. His previous International appointments include being a member of the Standards Advisory Council of the International Accounting Standards Board.
Annapurna Sengupta
Honorary Secretary
Lee Geok Ling
Honorary Treasurer
After graduating from University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (now part of University of Cardiff) with Bachelor of Science (Economics) in 1979, Geok Ling started his career with Price Waterhouse in Cardiff, United Kingdom (merged with Coopers and Lybrand to form PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1998). Geok Ling was admitted as an Associate member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 1982 and as Associate member of Institute of Taxation (UK) in 1983. He returned to Malaysia in 1984 and joined the Assurance practice of Price Waterhouse Kuala Lumpur where manages the audits of companies, listed and unlisted, in various industries. In 1989 he moved from client service practice to head the Finance and Technology department of Price Waterhouse until he retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2016. Geok Ling is also a member of Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Malaysian Institute of Accountants.
Chew Seng Choon
Council Member
Chew Seng Choon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Malaya in 1973. He joined the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Service, and served the government for 20 years. He was posted to a number of ministries, and the longest stint was at the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (MOSTE). His responsibilities in the Civil Service encompassed, amongst others, power and nuclear energy, science and technology, nature conservation, and environmental management. He has also served as Principal Private Secretary to the Minister in MOSTE. In 1993, he joined a government-linked corporation to work in a senior management position until his retirement in 2005. He then obtained a post-graduate Diploma in TESOL (Distinction) from the London Teachers Training College, United Kingdom, in 2007, and decided to venture into teaching and training. Currently, he is a freelance corporate trainer in the English language, ESH management, and human capital skills.
YBhg Datin Shalini Amerasinghe Ganendra
Council Member
As a cultural leader, with an experience trajectory spanning over 20 years, Datin Shalini has led the development of numerous trans-national and multi-disciplinary programmes, including dialogues, publications and exhibitions. She is a passionate advocate of free, quality education as a pre-requisite for sustainable and global nation building. After reading law at Cambridge University, she practised corporate finance law on Wall Street. She is a qualified Barrister (Lincoln’s Inn) and New York Attorney. She is past President, Oxford & Cambridge Society, Malaysia; Founding Board Member, English Speaking Union, Malaysia; Life Member, Kuala Lumpur Speakers Club and Founder of the annual, cultural marquee, Gallery Weekend Kuala Lumpur. She has served on the Tate Gallery Acquisitions Committee and the Trinity Hall, Cambridge University Advisory Board. Additionally, she has held numerous Visiting Fellowships including at Oxford University and continues with independent scholarship.
YBhg Datuk Seri Azman Ujang
Council Member
From bottom to top – that sums up the long & chequered career of Azman Ujang, spanning 48 years and all the time in Bernama. He began as a cadet reporter in the Kuching bureau of Bernama and reached the top editorial position of Editor-in-Chief in 2004. In 2007 he was appointed the General Manager or Chief Executive Officer until his retirement one and a half years later. In 2016, he was appointed Chairman, making him the first person to have held all the three top posts in the national news agency as Chairman, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.
Poon Foong Lin
Council Member
Poon Foong Lin is an optimist who believes in ‘there’s always a solution’. She has over a decade of experience running her own business startups across IT, retail services, manufacturing & export of Food & Beverage. Foong Lin is an Economics graduate from the United Kingdom’s Queen Mary College, University of London and an MBA holder from Keele University. As part of Gen X, you can find her on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook keeping up-to-date with the latest streams and threads. Aside from ESUM, she is also a life member of British Graduates Association Malaysia, a member of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation and active in the Ecommerce community.
Iris Tan
Council Member
Iris joined The Star, Malaysia’s leading English newspaper in 1990 as she is presently heading the Property Management & Development department of the Star Media Group. She has been very involved in organizing education projects promoting the use of English for the past 30 years of her career. She had recently retired from Star Media Group and the last position held was SGM Property Management & Development of the Star Media Group. She has also been an active board member of ESU Malaysia (ESUM) since its inception in 2002 and is involved in organizing ESU Public Speaking Competition in Malaysia for the last 17 years. Through ESUM, she also organizes activities that promote the use of English in the country such as essay writing competitions as well as English workshops. She graduated from the National University of Malaysia with a degree in Social Sciences and she also has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Malaya. She is an avid reader and loves children, people, culture, music, movies, travel, pop concerts, West End, Broadway musicals and good food.
Jagdish Bhain
Council Member
Jagdish started her career as a Home Science and Art teacher in 1974 and she furthered her education at The University of Malaya graduating with a BA Hons in English in 1984. Recently she received a certificate of Excellence in Communication Skills from Trinity Guildhall, London. She is also a certified trainer with the Ministry of Human Resource. She is a co-opted member of the English Speaking Union Malaysia (ESUM) and has conducted numerous Public Speaking Courses, Presentation Skills and Debating skills at various institutions in different countries. In 2018, she represented Malaysia in the ESU International Council Meeting held in Lisbon, Portugal. In Malaysia, she has extensive experience in conducting Business and Technical Writing, Cooperate Training, Grooming and Interview Skills. She also actively involved in the Kuala Lumpur Speakers Club, National Association of Women Entrepreneur Malaysia and the National Council of Women’s Organization.
Jay Ishak
Council Member
An Event Specialist with visionary leadership and creative expertise, she aims to shape meaningful progress and foster innovation through her dynamic contributions.