Tributes have been paid to the former Chairman of the University of Nottingham Malaysia after the death of YM Tengku Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ahmad Rithauddeen Bin Tengku Ismail was announced.

YM Tengku Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ahmad Rithauddeen Bin Tengku Ismail was an instrumental figure in the establishment of the Nottingham campus and led the historic ground breaking in January 2002 for the new purpose-built campus at Semenyih.

He was conferred Doctor of Laws honoris causa at the Malaysia campus inaugural graduation ceremony in 2002 and in 2013 received a University Alumni Laureate Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognises those who demonstrate special excellence over an extended period of time.

He was a founding member of the United Nations Association of Malaysia (UNAM) and was named an Ambassador for Peace in 2005, in addition to holding a variety of senior positions in the Malaysian Government including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister of Defence.

Professor Sarah Metcalfe, the Interim Provost/CEO of the Malaysia Campus said: “Tengku was our first Chairman, a position he held for 19 years, but he was working to establish the Malaysia Campus for many years before that. The university owes a huge debt to Tengku for the global footprint that it now has.

University of Nottingham President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said “We are indebted to Tengku Rithauddeen for his substantial contribution to the establishment, development and success of the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.

His commitment and insights have been hugely important to us and we will miss his presence enormously.”

YM Tengku Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ahmad Rithauddeen Bin Tengku Ismail was appointed Chairman on 27 January 1999 and retired on 31 July 2018.