PUTRAJAYA, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- The new World Health Organisation (WHO) representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Dr Corinne Martine Monique Capuano, presented her letter of appointment to Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong, here. Dr Capuano, who started duty on Dec 8 last year, replaced Dr Han Tieru, who completed his tour of duty on Sept 13. The French national started her career with the WHO in Port Vila, Vanuatu, and her last post was as a scientist at the WHO Representative Office in Suva, Fiji. She told reporters later that the WHO was committed to working hand in hand with Health Ministry and the government to improve the health of the population. "Malaysia has developed a lot of technical capacity and we also looking forward to utilising this technical capacity for the region and at the international level," she said. Meanwhile, Lee said Malaysia sought the WHO's continuous assistance in helping the ministry to improve resistance towards future pandemic. He said the seriousness of non-communicable diseases was alarming in the country, thus assistance from the WHO was appreciated, especially in terms of intensive and comprehensive research on how to promote awareness among the public. "The Foreign Ministry is willing to work hand-in-hand with Health Ministry to assist, facilitate as well as collaborate with the WHO for mutual benefit and hope that Dr Capuano will have a good working relationship with the Malaysian authorities," he said. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- The Foreign Ministry said foreign tourists visiting Sabah need not be unduly worried as the situation there is peaceful. The ministry's deputy secretary-general Datuk Mohd Radzi Abd Rahman in a statement Monday said this was because the Malaysian government was fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of visitors to the country and citizens alike. Mohd Radzi met with US ambassador James R. Keith at Wisma Putra Monday where he urged the latter to use his good office to review the Warden's Notice and Travel Alert on Eastern Sabah. He said this was in light of the existing sound security arrangement and the latest assurances by Malaysian leaders on the security of the area, given the special attention placed by the government to the area as a popular tourist destination. Mohd Radzi also reiterated the various statements and assurances given by the prime minister and deputy prime minister and heads of Malaysian security agencies on the actual security situation in the region. He said the Warden's Notice and Travel Alert could create a wrong, misleading and negative impression to the outside world on the security situation in Malaysia in relation to terrorist threats although the advisory was referring to a remote region of Eastern Sabah only.