Unesco's Mission, Commitment Continue To Inspire Malaysia - Muhyiddin

photo: MOTAC facebook

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has always been and will continue to be inspired by the mission and commitment of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to ensure sustainable development, eradicate poverty, promote inter-cultural dialogue and build peace, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The deputy prime minister said Malaysia was committed to and would persevere in upholding Unesco's competencies and principles.

Reiterating the country's intention to be on the Unesco Executive Board for the 2015-2019 term, Muhyiddin said the year 2015 served as an important platform for Malaysia to be involved directly with the implementation of Unesco's post-2015 agenda.

"We believe in diversity as strength, and with the amalgamation of the global diversity, we believe that Malaysia can and will add its strength as a pillar of stability and reason for the betterment of the human race," he said when launching the Malaysia Unesco Day at Dataran Merdeka here, Saturday. Also present was Prof Dr Hubert Gijzen, director of the Unesco regional office in Jakarta.

The two-day Unesco Day, carrying the theme "Our Heritage, World Heritage", is organised by the Tourism and Culture Ministry in collaboration with the Malaysian National Commission for Unesco (MNCU).

Muhyiddin, who is the president of MNCU, said the government had approved several projects early this year under the Malaysian Funds-in-Trust (MFiT), and two of the projects were already being implemented.

"Further to my announcement on the Unesco Day 2013 celebration in Melaka, that Malaysia has been listed as one of the donor countries through the Malaysia-Unesco Cooperation Programme (MUCP), with the signing of the agreement on the establishment of the MFiT on April 5 last year. "The implementation of projects under the MFiT MUCP has opened a new chapter to help strengthen further the close Malaysia-Unesco ties, and enhance the visibility of Malaysia as a member of Unesco," he said.

At the event, Gijzen handed over to Muhyiddin the instrument recognising the Crocker Range in Sabah as a World Biosphere Reserve under the 'Man and the Biosphere' programme of Unesco.

Muhyiddin said the Crocker Range was the second site in the country to have been accorded such recognition, following Tasik Chini in Pahang in 2009.

"This shows the seriousness of the country in creating a balance between environmental preservation and development through the sustainable development approach. "As a member state of the MAB International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC) up to 2017, Malaysia is definitely more committed to promoting harmony in nature, consistent with the MAB goal of a sustainability-based relationship between communities and the environment," he said.
-bernama.