THURSDAY, 30 OCTOBER – The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) presented its Japan International Cooperation Agency President Commendation Award to two Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) lecturers at the Executive Board Meeting Room yesterday.

Both recipients were Prof. Dr. Kamarulzaman Askandar and Dr. Ayesah Uy Abubakar, lecturers from the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage.

At the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah in his speech said that the cooperation between JICA and UMS began in 2002, through the Borneon Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conservation (BBEC) Programme, a multi-agency collaboration between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Sabah state government and UMS.

“We increased our cooperation through this peace-building platform between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), now known as Consolidation for Peace (COP) programme with JICA through the leadership of both the recipients,” he said.

Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun congratulated JICA and said that he was proud with the ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and hoped that this smart-partnership would encourage more initiatives and activities in the future.

Meanwhile, JICA Senior Representative, Kyodo Okubo said the commendation award was presented to individuals, groups and project teams to recognise their outstanding contribution to the development of human resources, society and the economy of developing countries. – SS (fl)


Photo: Ernest Berinus


Media and Citra Division
Chancellery Department