Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, was on a three-day (11-13 August 2025) official visit to Malaysia.
On 13 Aug he participated in a convocation1 where he received an honorary PhD on social business. After this function there was a smaller interactive session at Zecon Hotel, Kuala Lumpur co organised by UKM and the Yunos Social Business Centre (https://www.yunussb.com/). The Malaysia network (https://myharapan.org/mysbn). The network members were all present and raised their comments and suggestions with Prof Yunos.
Denison Jayasooria and Puan Rahmah Othman had an opportunity to participate. Denison found that Prof looked like and remained the same man although he was now surrounded by government officials and body guards. It was a great privilege to meet the man again.
“From Prof to micro credit innovator to social business champion to Nobel Laurate and now to government chief advisor BUT at heart the same simple and humble people leaders”
What a testimony of life of an economy professor which all academics must emulate. Not just in academic world but also at the grassroots impact ordinary people.
Denison asked Prof Yunos a question on how at times social business seem less critical of structural issues such as injustice, discrimination unfair wages and issues surrounding inequality. In his reply Prof Yunos capitalism is in a path of self-destruction if it is only concern for profits and not social and environmental concerns as well. He advised us to use the technology and become job creators not job seekers.
Also, at the function had the opportunity to meet up with Prof David Gibbons and Dato Sukor Kassim the prime movers of the Amanah Ikhtira Malaysia (https://www.aim.gov.my/) program which is a Grameen replication in Malaysia.
1 https://www.ukm.my/beritaukm/chief-adviser-dedicates-honorary-doctorate-to-the-people-of-bangladesh/
