#Covid-19 Info Untuk Orang Asli, sila mengunjungi
Informasi Center Untuk Covid-19 yang disediakan oleh ahli TPOA
(TPOA's Information Centre For Covid-19)

*The website of TPOA's Information Centre For Covid-19 was designed to collect and disseminate critical information regarding Covid-19 for rural communities who have slow Internet access.

The Role of Researchers from Unimas in Institute

Researchers from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) took on both administrative and research & development roles in the project at the University level. Tasks were divided between the researchers based on their levels of expertise and skills as well as the multiple demands on their time as researchers in order to best draw on the diverse capabilities and interests that exist.

As the Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations (ISITI) spearheaded the successful eBario initiative and later on its replications in Ba’Kelalan, Long Lamai, Larapan and Buayan, the team of researchers at ISITI who were site leaders at these sites were asked to act as mentors to the appointed site leaders of the TPOA project. The Institute provided the TPOA researchers with valuable support to the initiative, and helped to define the directions as well as identify the critical issues related to the project.

About The Project

The Telecentre Programme for Orang Asli (TPOA) West Malaysia initiative first came into execution through the Needs Analysis in Developing Telecentre among Orang Asli West Malaysia, which was conducted within a one-year period of February 2011 till February 2012. The main goal of Needs Analysis was to conduct preliminary assessment of actual Information Communication Technology (ICT) needs and uses in the communities to be served by these facilities and to provide training to all stakeholders (specifically community mobilisers attached to government and non-governmental agencies) on how to carry out community engagement activities when setting up telecentres for community development.

Four Orang Asli settlements were selected to participate as respondents for the Needs Analysis. Upon the completion of the Needs Analysis at the selected Orang Asli settlements in Pos Sinderut and Pos Lenjang, Pahang and Pos Balar and Pos Gob, Kelantan, the same sites were again identified as the beneficiaries of the programme.

OBJECTIVES

The TPOA programme sought to fulfill several objectives, namely:

Facilitate communication
Provide access to information
Create resource centres for new “knowledge” and skills
Provide education through ICT
Provide training for local capacity building
Provide health related information to the villagerss
Drive rural development through the Telecentres as Rural Transformation Centres

Our Team

Three main teams were formed to ensure the success of the project, namely:


Associate Professor Dr. Poline Bala TPOA Project Leader Lecturer, Faculty of Social Science, UNIMAS	Mr. Justin Malik Masia @ Peton TPOA Project Manager

TELECOMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM DESIGN TEAM

Associate Professor Dr. Tan Chong Eng

(TPOA Telecommunication and ICT Head)

Lecturer, Faculty of Computer Science & Information Technology, Unimas

Dr Lau Sei Ping

Lecturer, Faculty of Computer Science & Information Technology, Unimas

Wong Siew Mooi

TPOA IT Specialist

TPOA PROJECT SITES LEADER

Four project site leaders were appointed to manage each research site in order to oversee the progress of each site. Each site leader was chosen based on their interpersonal and facilitation skills as well as their emphasis on community perspectives, knowledge on community resources and ability to build on relationships, both within the team and also with the community. The site leaders also act as the liaison person between the community and the University, and are able to understand and be comfortable in both the academic and community setting.


Site Leader of Pos Sinderut Dr. Wong Swee Kiong	Site Leader of Pos Lenjang Dr. John Phoa Chui Leong	Site Leader of Pos Balar Mr. Christopher a/l Perumal	Site Leader of Pos Gob Dr. Nwanesi Peter Karubi

ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT TEAM


Prof. Ir. Dr. Al-Khalid Haji Othman (TPOA Energy and Infrastructure Development Head) Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, Unimas	AP. Dr. Hushairi Haji Zen Lecturer,Faculty of Engineering, Unimas	AP. Dr. Wan Azlan Wan Zainal Abidin Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, Unimas

Ir. Dr. Mohd. Daniel bin Ibrahim Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, Unimas	Dr. Ngu Sze Song Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, Unimas	En. Mohd. Farid Atan Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, Unimas

En. Azfar Satari bin Abdullah Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, Unimas