40 Curtin students receive 1Malaysia laptops

Miri – 5 October 2011 – 40 students of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) were among 302 students in Miri who received 1Malaysia laptops at a handover ceremony held recently at Institut Latihan Perindustrian (ILP) Miri.

On hand to witness the handing over of the laptops to the Curtin students were the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Curtin Sarawak, Professor Ian Kerr, and University Life Manager Haslina Abdul Malek.

The nationwide 1Malaysia Laptop programme, which is driven by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Ministry of Information Communications and Culture and the National Broadband Initiative, helps financially disadvantaged students enhance their learning process by providing them free laptops and broadband services.

Dato’ Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui, Federal Minister of Energy, Green Technology & Water in his speech conveyed by his political secretary, Dato’ Sebastian Ting, said students from institutions of higher learning in Miri are encouraged to enhance their knowledge by exploiting modern technology and the broadband services made available in the country.

He said that, through 1Malaysia Laptop initiative, the government hopes students will be able to add value to their knowledge and help build an educated community with a high literacy level.

He added that the government is aggressively promoting 1Malaysia programmes involving Malaysians of all ages regardless of their race and religion to further foster unity in the country.

Meanwhile, Director of the ILP, Donny Sadin Kachon, in his speech commended the government for its efforts in promoting the usage of IT, especially in the rural communities.

He commented that a similar event was held at Kampung Muhibbah at Kuala Baram near here where 76 laptops were distributed to villagers and community leaders.

6,800 1Malaysia laptops have been allocated to Sarawak under Phase 2 of the initiative, of which 6,080 have been set aside for schools and institutions in Miri.

At the ceremony, 302 laptops were handed out to students from ILP, Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN), SM Pei Min, Giatmara and Curtin Sarawak.

For more information on Curtin Sarawak, visit its website at www.curtin.edu.my or e-mail enquiries@curtin.edu.my.

Dato’ Sebastian Ting handing over a laptop to a Curtin student as Professor Kerr looks on.