Brunei representatives aim for Apicta 2011 win

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Category: News

Published on Sunday, 18 December 2011 16:08

WINNERS of the Brunei ICT Award (Bicta) left for Thailand yesterday to compete in the Asia Pacific ICT Award (Apicta) 2011.

The six teams, made up of 11 participants are from Chung Hwa Middle School, Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College (MTSSR), Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB), Social Buzz Advertising, Crescent Sdn Bhd and Iplussoft Technology.

They are led by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications Dato Paduka Hj Alaihuddin POKDGSL Dato Seri Utama Hj Mohamad Taha, who is also the chairman of Bicta Steering Committee.

In an interview with The Brunei Times, Mohd Rafiee Hj Rahim, one of the participants from MTSSR said it was his first time attending an Apicta event and he felt nervous.

The 25-year-old said that gaining experience and knowledge from participants of other countries was more important than winning. "We will do our best," added Mohd Rafiee.

Hj Suhardi Hj Suhaimi, the supervising teacher from MTSSR, said since the Apicta was a competition that was more at an international level, he hoped it would provide the needed experience and exposure for his students.

Derby Teo, 15, a participant from Chung Hwa Middle School said she is expecting the Apicta competition to be challenging but is keen to learn the different cultures of participants from different countries.

Also included in Brunei delegation are AITI Chief Executive Officer Hj Yahkup Hj Menudin, and Pg Abd Ghani Pg Metussin, chairman of Infocom Federation Brunei (IFB).

Brunei would also be sending five representatives as Apicta judges.

The products of the six teams that will be presented at Apicta 2011 are; "Wa7 Facilities Reservation" by Jong Chea Soon and Derby of Chung Hwa Middle School; "Brunei Experience Multimedia Project" by Abdul Rashid Hj Osman, Dk Siti Syuhaidah Pg Hj Bahruddin, Fatin Liyana Suhili and Mohd Rafiee Hj Rahim MTSSR; "Simple Pay" by Nor Azarina Hj Mohsin, Ya-Anenawati Hj Md Yusuf and Farrah Koh of ITB; "Social Deal Brunei" by Hiro Tien of Social Buzz Advertising; "Islamic Brunei Educators" by Hjh Salma Bee Hj Abdul Latiff of Crescent Sdn Bhd; and "Brunei Lifestyle Mobile Application" by King She Horng of Iplussoft Technology.

Apicta 2011 is organised by The Association of Thai ICT Industry and supported by The Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA).

The four-day competition which began yesterday will end on November 11.

If any of the team wins the first prize at the Apicta 2011, they will be awarded a grant of $50,000 by AITI to further develop their creations into marketable commercial products.

Second prize or Merit Award winner will be given a grant of $25,000.