The Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM) marked its 60th anniversary with a Royal Gala Dinner at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, bringing together 700 guests from government, business, academia, the diplomatic corps, professional bodies and the wider MIM community.

The Diamond Jubilee celebrated six decades of contribution to Malaysia’s management profession while looking firmly ahead to MIM’s next chapter: strengthening its role as a national beacon of management and leadership excellence, where Malaysia’s emerging and established leaders come not only to learn, but also to contribute their experience, mentor others and strengthen the generations that follow.

The celebration was honoured by the presence of Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj, Sultan of Selangor, and Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tengku Permaisuri Hajah Norashikin, Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, as Royal Guests of Honour.

Their Royal Highnesses also toured the MIM 60th Anniversary Wall of Fame, chronicling the Institute’s six-decade journey and its contribution to the development of Malaysia’s management profession.

MIM President YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min accompanying Their Royal Highnesses Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, Sultan of Selangor, and Tengku Permaisuri Hajah Norashikin on a tour of the MIM 60th Anniversary Wall of Fame, sharing highlights of the Institute’s six-decade journey and contribution to Malaysia’s management profession.

Founded in 1966 during the formative years of Malaysia’s development, MIM has since empowered more than one million professionals and supported over 5,000 organisations across the public and private sectors.

But as MIM enters its seventh decade, its leadership believes the Institute’s legacy should be measured by more than numbers.

His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, Sultan of Selangor, signs the portrait taken of His Royal Highness and YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min’s parents at the MIM 35th Anniversary Celebration, as Her Royal Highness Tengku Permaisuri Hajah Norashikin looks on.

“The greatest legacy of an institution is not what it keeps for itself, but what it develops in others,” said MIM President YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min, the first woman to serve as President in the Institute’s 60-year history.

Central to this vision is a deeper, lifelong relationship between MIM and its community. Rather than viewing education as a series of individual programmes, the Institute aims to create an ecosystem in which people continue to learn from—and eventually give back to—one another throughout their professional lives.

Participants can become contributors. Contributors can become advisers. Advisers can become ambassadors for the next generation.

This commitment takes on new importance at a time when artificial intelligence and unprecedented access to information are changing how people work and learn.

“Information can be accessed. Education must be experienced,” Dato’ Yeoh said. “AI can accelerate decisions, but it cannot assume responsibility for them.”

For MIM, this distinction reinforces the continuing importance of human judgment, integrity, trust and the exchange of knowledge and experience between generations.

The evening also honoured five distinguished Malaysian leaders through the Conferment Ceremony of the Court of Emeritus Fellows (CoEF), MIM’s highest honorary recognition: YM Tunku Muinuddin Putra Tunku Ahmad Nerang, YBhg. Datuk P. Kamalanathan A/L Panchanathan, YBhg. CP (R) Dato’ Dr. Lee Bee Phang, YBhg. Dato’ Yong Yoon Li and YBhg. Datuk (Dr.) Yvonne Chia.

The recognition honours individuals whose leadership, professional achievement, stewardship and lifelong service have contributed to the management profession and the nation—reflecting MIM’s belief that experience gains greater value when it is shared with others.

The Diamond Jubilee also featured the presentation of the MIM 60th Anniversary Commemorative Book, documenting the Institute’s journey and the people who shaped it, as well as the unveiling of a Royal portrait created in honour of Their Royal Highnesses. The presentations were made by Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min, MIM Vice-President YBhg. Dato’ Ng Tieh Chuan, and MIM Chairman YBhg. Datuk Zainal Amanshah bin Zainal Arshad.

MIM President YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min presenting the MIM 60th Anniversary Commemorative Book to His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, Sultan of Selangor.

For Dato’ Yeoh, her appointment as MIM’s first female President brings both the privilege of inheriting a 60-year institution and the responsibility of ensuring that it continues to matter.

“MIM’s next chapter is not about competing on scale. It is about leading through relevance.”

That relevance will be built by connecting generations, industries and perspectives; bringing global knowledge into dialogue with Malaysian and ASEAN realities; and creating opportunities for those who have benefited from MIM to contribute their own knowledge and experience in return.

The guests of honour, Their Royal Highnesses Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, Sultan of Selangor, and Tengku Permaisuri Hajah Norashikin (centre), seated with members of MIM leadership and their distinguished guests. From left to right: Professor Loredana Padurean, Ms Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, YBhg. Datin Chong Meow Yin, MIM Vice-President YBhg. Dato’ Ng Tieh Chuan, YBhg. Dato’ Robert Tan Kim Kuan, MIM President YBhg. Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min, YABhg. Toh Puan Hamidah binti Abdul Hamid, Her Royal Highness Princess Dato’ Norodom Arunrasmy, H.E. Keo Puth Reasmey, MIM Chairman YBhg. Datuk Zainal Amanshah bin Zainal Arshad, YBhg. Datin Suryani binti Tun Ahmad Sarji, Distinguished Professor Joseph Cherian, and Mr Raymond Bao.

As MIM begins its seventh decade, its purpose remains both simple and ambitious: to honour the legacy it has inherited while continuing to develop the people who will shape Malaysia’s future.

“Strong leadership builds strong organisations. And strong organisations help build a stronger nation.”

Source: Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM)

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