ICT volunteers get MCMC recognition

KUCHING: Some 19 volunteers received recognition by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as a token of appreciation for their contribution to the society through the Malaysia ICT Volunteers (MIV) programme, as well as their success in reaching the programme targets.

MCMC chief digital sector Gerard Lim said the award winners were celebrated at the MIV Excellence Awards 2019 at MCMC’s Headquarters in Cyberjaya.

The ceremony was also attended by, among others, representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and service providers.

According to him, seven award categories were given out, namely Excellent Volunteer Award, Fabulous Volunteer Award, Amazing Volunteer Team Award, Impressive Volunteer Team Award, Best Volunteer Video Award, Inspiring Volunteer Award, and Dynamic Volunteer Award.

Tanging Asun, 67, from Pusat Internet Pekan Beluru, Bakong in Miri won the Inspiring Volunteer Award. He was the first member of the Internet centre since it was first opened three years ago, and remained active ever since.

He would travel for 70km back and forth from his house in Miri to his hometown in Beluru to run ICT volunteering activities.

Norashikin Saad, 51, a supervisor in the Language Unit at Perlis Education Department, received the Dynamic Volunteer Award for her efforts in sharing MCMC’s advocacy efforts among schoolchildren, as well as running Internet safety programmes with differently-abled students in SMK Arau, Perlis.

Best Volunteer Video Award went to mother and son team, Eriy Dusun, 41, and Muhamad Allan Afendy Jeffridin, 19. They produced a video on their volunteering activities such as Jelajah ICT, Klik Dengan Bijak, as well as marketing local products. Both of them are registered users in Pusat Internet Pekan Putera Jaya, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

For the MIV with School category, Voon Khing Siong, 43, a History teacher from SMK Sg Maong, Padawan, near here received the Fabulous Volunteer Award for his involvement in the MIV with School 2018 programme that was held in Kuching last year.

All winners received a cash prize, a trophy and a certificate of appreciation from Gerard.

Gerard said MIV has a different approach as compared to other volunteering programmes as they help schools and communities to use ICT to gain knowledge.

They also assist the needy in increasing their income and quality of life.

He said MIV has four focus groups – namely MIV with Community, MIV with School, MIV with Institutions of Higher Learning and MIV with International ICT Volunteers (IIV).

“Among the services rendered by the MIV volunteers are implementing online marketing strategies to help local entrepreneurs market their products, educating an ethical and responsible use of ICT, as well as inculcating awareness on MCMC’s advocacy messages.

The MIV programme currently has 2,701 registered volunteers and 1,755 of them who fulfilled the conditions were selected for training in various activities involving ICT,” Gerard added.

MCMC encourages members of the public who are interested to be an MIV volunteer to register online at www.miv.mcmc.gov.my to attend a two-day workshop before commencing volunteering activities.

MIV EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2019 WINNERS LIST