NEWS FROM STAR NEWSPAPER

Saturday January 24, 2009

Malacca looking at ways to develop bilateral ties with Timor Leste

By MARTIN CARVALHO

MALACCA: The state will look at ways to forge closer-ties with the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste following the two-day official visit of its president Dr Jose Ramos-Horta here.

Chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said one of the ways being looked at was affiliating Timor Lestes national youth body with the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) secretariat based in Malacca.

“Timor Leste’s national youth council can be affiliated with WAY. This will allow us to invite their youth representatives to participate in WAYs annual convention,” he said after attending a briefing with the president at the
Putra Specialists Hospital here on Tuesday.

NICE TO MEET YOU: Jose Ramos- Horta meeting up with THE Timur Leste youths.Looking on is Mohd Ali Rustam (left) .

He also said that the state would look at ways to help the island republic develop its tourism and agriculture industries including offering medical services treatment of chronic diseases.

“I urge private companies here to also consider venturing there as its is a new country that possess economic potential,” he added.

Earlier, Jose Ramos attended a briefing held at Kompleks Seri Negeri before visiting several sites of interest in the city.

The president was especially keen on visiting Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir as Timor Leste was once a former Portuguese colony that traces its history to 16th Century Malacca.

He also met up with 16 Timor Leste youths, ages between 12 and 18, who have been undergoing medical treatment at the state owned hospital here since 2007.

Timor Leste grateful to Malaysia

MALACCA: Timor Leste President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta yesterday thanked Malaysia for helping his country since it achieved independence seven years ago.

He said Malaysia was the first country to set up an embassy in Timor Leste and helped to train his country's police force and acquire equipment.

"Malaysia had also strongly supported our application to become an Asean member.

"Their (Malaysia) peacekeeping forces also played an important role when there were disturbances in our country in 2006.

"We hope that, one day, we will be able to repay the kindness of the Malaysian government," he said after visiting the Putra Specialist Hospital here.
He is on a five-day official visit to the country with a 10-member delegation.

He also attended a briefing on developments in the state by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam at Seri Negeri and took a cruise on the Malacca River.

Mohd Ali said the state government was prepared to assist Timor Leste in various fields, including education and agriculture, apart from inviting their people to visit and seek medical treatment in Malacca.