Malaysia to Intensify Bid for a World Heritage Seat -BERNAMA NEWS |
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PARIS, 12 MAY, 2011: Malaysia will intensify its campaign for a seat in the World Heritage Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said. He noted that although Malaysia's campaign here received a positive response, this did not mean that the country would ultimately win support to sit in the committee. Speaking to Malaysian journalists at the end of his visit here on Wednesday, Muhyiddin said Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim would carry out meetings to present Malaysia's bid for the seat. "We hope to win unanimous support to sit in the committee," he said, adding that voting would take place at the end of this year. Muhyiddin said Malaysia planned to play a major role in the committee. Addressing the 186th Unesco executive meeting earlier on Tuesday, Muhyiddin said Malaysia wanted to play a major role in safeguarding the heritage of the world for future generation. He told the meeting that Malaysia had a large number of experts in archaeology as well as in cultural and natural heritage management, and that their expertise could be utilised to safeguard the world's heritage. Muhyiddin, who is the education minister, also spoke about Unesco's education for all (EFA) policy and said that Malaysia had no problem implementing it. He said free education was provided to all Malaysian children, including those with disabilities. "We provide education to all, irrespective of their race, background and religion. Education is not only the rights of everyone, it is also given free," he said. He noted that the EFA was not a problem for Malaysia to implement despite the presence of children whose citizenship status was uncertain, like those in Sabah and Sarawak, who might be children of refugees. Based on survey, however, their number was small, he said. These children had been given access to primary education, allowing them to get basic skills in reading, counting and writing, he added. The deputy prime minister noted that children who were hospitalised were also provided with teachers, thanks to an initiative by a charity body headed by his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman. The first phase of the programme covers three hospitals. - Bernama |
