Malaysian volunteers to help establish ICT in East Timor
Leong Kar YenPublished: Feb 8, 2001 11:40 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Three Malaysian volunteers will be sent to East Timor this month as part of a joint international programme to facilitate the development of information communication technology (ICT) in the country.
Volunteers Abdullah Zainol Abidin, Ganeswaran Krisnaratnam and Nyanaprakash Muniandy, who will be stationed there for a year, were selected by [#1] Salam Foundation [/#] and the [#2] United Nations Development Programme [/#] (UNDP) for their extensive experience in information technology (IT).
Three Malaysian volunteers will be sent to East Timor this month as part of a joint international programme to facilitate the development of information communication technology (ICT) in the country.
Volunteers Abdullah Zainol Abidin, Ganeswaran Krisnaratnam and Nyanaprakash Muniandy, who will be stationed there for a year, were selected by [#1]Salam Foundation[/#] and the [#2]United Nations Development Programme[/#] (UNDP) for their extensive experience in information technology (IT).
"The programme aims to use the services, technical knowledge and experiences of volunteers in contributing to the development of information communication technology infrastructure and human capacity of East Timor," said Salam executive director Paul Selva Raj at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.
The venture is a collaboration between Salam, the [#3]Asia Pacific Development Information Programme[/#] (Apdip) and UNDP.
East Timor, a small enclave located to the east of Java in the Indonesian archipelago, has been under the administration of the UN Transitional Authority since Indonesia relinquished its troubled 14-year rule in December 1999.
Raj said that Abdullah and Ganeswaran will be assisting in the creation and management of a training centre in East Timor while Nyanaprakash will be joining UNDP's Internet for Development network to provide technical assistance.
UNDP regional representative Phillips J Young said that the Malaysian development experience is "one that we as the UN must share with all our programme countries - particularly your experience in the field of IT".
Asked if there were enough infrastructure and facilities in East Timor to support such a venture, Apdip regional coordinator Shahid Akhtar told malaysiakini that the infrastructure was virtually non-existent after Indonesia left but the situation now is greatly improved and the UNDP and Apdip "went in like fire fighters" to provide the means to communication.
"Communication is greatly needed now by the people of East Timor and communication actually assists in development," he said.
Year of volunteers
Volunteer Nyanaprakash told reporters that this will be his first working stint abroad, a fact which initially worried his family.
"They were hesitant (about my going there) at first, but after I explained it (what I will be doing) to them, they were very supportive. I am very honoured to be chosen," he said.
Ganeswaran, too, said that "he was very happy to serve and contribute in any way possible".
Meanwhile, Anis Yusal Yusoff, the programme manager for UNDP, stated that since 2001 is the "International Year of Volunteers", he hoped more Malaysians would get involved in volunteerism.
Salam's Raj also appealed to those with the intention to volunteer their services to apply to the organisation.
Volunteers Abdullah Zainol Abidin, Ganeswaran Krisnaratnam and Nyanaprakash Muniandy, who will be stationed there for a year, were selected by [#1]Salam Foundation[/#] and the [#2]United Nations Development Programme[/#] (UNDP) for their extensive experience in information technology (IT).
"The programme aims to use the services, technical knowledge and experiences of volunteers in contributing to the development of information communication technology infrastructure and human capacity of East Timor," said Salam executive director Paul Selva Raj at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.
The venture is a collaboration between Salam, the [#3]Asia Pacific Development Information Programme[/#] (Apdip) and UNDP.
East Timor, a small enclave located to the east of Java in the Indonesian archipelago, has been under the administration of the UN Transitional Authority since Indonesia relinquished its troubled 14-year rule in December 1999.
Raj said that Abdullah and Ganeswaran will be assisting in the creation and management of a training centre in East Timor while Nyanaprakash will be joining UNDP's Internet for Development network to provide technical assistance.
UNDP regional representative Phillips J Young said that the Malaysian development experience is "one that we as the UN must share with all our programme countries - particularly your experience in the field of IT".
Asked if there were enough infrastructure and facilities in East Timor to support such a venture, Apdip regional coordinator Shahid Akhtar told malaysiakini that the infrastructure was virtually non-existent after Indonesia left but the situation now is greatly improved and the UNDP and Apdip "went in like fire fighters" to provide the means to communication.
"Communication is greatly needed now by the people of East Timor and communication actually assists in development," he said.
Year of volunteers
Volunteer Nyanaprakash told reporters that this will be his first working stint abroad, a fact which initially worried his family.
"They were hesitant (about my going there) at first, but after I explained it (what I will be doing) to them, they were very supportive. I am very honoured to be chosen," he said.
Ganeswaran, too, said that "he was very happy to serve and contribute in any way possible".
Meanwhile, Anis Yusal Yusoff, the programme manager for UNDP, stated that since 2001 is the "International Year of Volunteers", he hoped more Malaysians would get involved in volunteerism.
Salam's Raj also appealed to those with the intention to volunteer their services to apply to the organisation.
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