The final instalment of the Perdana Discourse Series, jointly organised by the Perdana Leadership Foundation and the Institute of Quality and Knowledge Advancement (InQKA), UiTM was held on 4 November 2009 in Putrajaya. The theme of this tenth Discourse was “The Role of Women and Youth in National Development” and was sponsored by PROTON.

The Discourse opened with the welcome address by the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Perdana Leadership Foundation, Tan Sri Dato’ Azman Hashim who thanked Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia and Honorary President of the Perdana Leadership Foundation, for sharing his thoughts throughout the ten series of the Perdana Discourse. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Abu Shah , Vice Chancellor of UiTM introduced the Guest of Honour and Keynote speaker of the Discourse, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, as well as thanking the Perdana Leadership Foundation and PROTON for the success of organising the Perdana Discourse Series since its debut in 2004.

The Discourse received an overwhelming response from the more than two hundred students, NGO representatives and business professionals who filled up the Auditorium.A question and answer session followed the keynote address and a surprise memento – a painting – was presented by Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Abu Shah to Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in appreciation of his inspirational impact on young Malaysians.

Following the keynote address was the panel discussion where 3 panelists, Associate Professor Saliha Hassan from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Chairman of Leaders for Tomorrow, Tengku Zafrul Aziz and columnist and author Dina Zaman, commented on Tun Dr. Mahathir’s points and conveyed their views on the topic to the participants. Puan Zuraidah Haji Musib, Vice President for the Corporate Communications Department, Professional Services Development Corporation was the moderator for the panel session.

The group discussions were held after lunch where participants were divided into 6 groups to discuss the key points of the Discourse delivered by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and the panelists. A plenary session where participants delivered their resolutions on the topic concluded the programme.