(Eastern Times; September 10, 2009)

BETONG: The fourth batch of the Rural ICT Guided Home-based Technoreneur Programme (RIGHT) 2009 candidates have recently graduated.

The CEO of SAINS, Mr. Teo Tien Hiong together with Tuan Haji Hamsien Haji Atar, Assistant Principal Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Development Sarawak, who was representing Tuan Haji Chaiti Bolhassan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Sarawak, officiated at the graduating ceremony.

5 candidates, from various areas of rural Sarawak, participated in the programme, which began in March this year and ended in August. They were, from Betong division, Cik Rosmah Yusuf from Kampung Tuie, Pusa, Encik Hilman Helmi from Spaoh and Encik Fadly Bujang from Debak, whereas the other two graduates are Encik Kenneth Newton Belayong from Sri Aman division and Cik Fiona Iba from Mukah.

Kenneth said that his 6 months of training with the SAINS trainers had enabled him to gain vast IT knowledge and also taught him the skills necessary to be a technopreneur.

“I have been given valuable training and ample knowledge to start up a business in my home town”, he said.

In his comments on graduation day, Kenneth said he was determined to set up an ICT business centre in Sri Aman even though there were four existing Cyber Centres in the area, adding he was keen to take on the challenge with the assistance and advice from SAINS and the Ministry.

Teo said he was pleased to hear the graduates plans and hoped that they would follow through on their ideas and grasp the opportunity given to them.

“We will help them to be successful technopreneurs, and my advice to them is that a journey of a thousands miles starts with a single step. You need to take up the challenge head on and work at it continuously”, said Mr. Teo after being briefed by each of the candidates during the presentation.

Hamsien congratulated the 5 candidates and praised this year’s candidates on their commitment to do well in their training.

“This programme is one of the Ministry’s success stories, and I really hope that our graduates will continue their technopreneurs venture and develop ICT knowledge in their respective rural communities and keep this programme sustainable”, he said.

As of today, more than 30 graduates from the RIGHT programme have either successfully set-up ICT businesses in their villages or have been employed in established IT companies in Sarawak.

Since 2005, SAINS has been collaborating with the State Ministry of Rural Development on the RIGHT programme as one of the ways to bridge the rural-urban digital divide in Sarawak.

This annual programme trains rural youths to provide ICT services, both as an income generating opportunity and to support the adoption of ICT in rural communities.

For more information on the RIGHT programme, visit www.right.sarawak.gov.my or contact the RIGHT Coordinator at 082-234008