Malaysia elected to Unesco's executive board

EPA pix

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has been elected to Unesco’s executive board for the 2015-2019 term after getting the highest votes among Asia-Pacific countries.

Malaysian National Commission for Unesco secretary-general Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman said the result was announced at the 12th Plenary Meeting of the 38th General Conference on Wednesday (Nov 11) in Paris, France.

He said Malaysia received 165 votes followed by Vietnam (156); Sri Lanka (149), Korea (137); Pakistan (135) and Iran (128).

"Unesco's executive board comprised 58 elected members and 186 countries from a total of 195 member countries eligible to vote," he said in a statement here Thursday.

Malaysia is no stranger in Unesco's programmes and activities. The country joined the organisation in 1958 and became a member of the executive board for several terms, the latest was from 2007 to 2011.

Mohd Khairul Adib said Malaysia was also elected to the Inter-governmental Council (IGC) for Information For All Programme (IFAP) under the organisation's Communication and Information Commission.

The role of IGC, among others, are checking and assessing achievements and determining the basic areas that needed improvement in international cooperation as well as supporting fund-raising efforts for IFAP.

He said Malaysia was also honoured that Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur had been elected as the new chairman of Unesco's Science Commission.

Noorul Ainur was unanimously appointed as the chairman for the 2015-2017 term. - BERNAMA