HISHAMMUDDIN REPRESENTS MUHYIDDIN AT UNESCO MEETING

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Hishammuddin
Hussein is representing Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin
Yassin at the Unesco Executive Board meeting in Paris which began
yesterday and will end on April 24.

Hishammuddin said he would use his participation at the meeting to inform
the Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation)
Director-General and its Board members on Malaysia's new cabinet.

In the new cabinet line-up, Muhyiddin replaces Hishammuddin as Education
Minister while the latter now helms the Home Ministry.

"In practice, the Education Minister represents our country at the Unesco
Executive Board meeting after Malaysia was elected to the seat at the Unesco
34th General Assembly for a four-year term beginning last year until 2011," he
said in a statement issued Sunday.

Hishammuddin said the meeting would also be used to assist Muhyiddin in
taking over the responsibility as a Unesco Executive Board member and hold
discussions with the organisation's Director-General.

The biannual meeting is Unesco's second highest forum after its General
Assembly.

Hishammuddin said the meeting was for making policies and to study the
effectiveness of Unesco's programmes in the fields of education, science,
culture, social science and communication.

"I am confident that with his capability and commitment, Muhyiddin will be
able to play an effective role in conveying Malaysia's views and enhancing its
visibility at the international level," he said.

Hishammuddin also said that as the deputy prime minister's represenative at
the Unesco meeting, it was his duty to ensure that the country's views and the
important matters be given attention, besides discussing current issues.

-- BERNAMA