Initiative by MOE's Technical Education Department to develop over 2,500 networking professionals over the next five years

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - August 5, 2002 - Malaysia's Ministry of Education has taken a major step in the development of the knowledge economy by making the Cisco Networking Academy Program available in 25 polytechnics and community colleges throughout the country. With each institution training a minimum of 20 students per year, this will result in over 2,500 networking professionals over the next five years.

Developed by Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, the Cisco Networking Academy program teaches students to design, build and maintain computer networks. Three of the 25 institutions will be certified as Regional Academies - Politeknik Seberang Perai (PSP) in the Northern Zone; Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Shah Alam (PSA) in the Central Zone; and Politeknik Johor Bahru (PJB) in the Southern Zone.

"The powerful currents of the Internet and information technology have swept the world and Malaysia's development has reached a critical juncture. The structural transformation of the global economy places our society at the threshold of a fundamental shift; first into an information-based society and then beyond to knowledge-based one. We need to respond to those changes by taking bold steps in our children's education and develop a pool of workers with the necessary skills. Working with established business leaders like Cisco Systems and incorporating the world-class curriculum that they have developed into our educational structure will strengthen and better prepare us for the demands of the new economy," said Y. Bhg. Dato' Hj Ambrin Buang, Secretary General, Ministry of Education.

Besides the web-based curriculum, Cisco will provide networking equipment to the three regional academies as well as training for their instructors. The training for the six instructors, two from each of the three regional academies, has already been completed. The regional academies in turn will manage and train local academies. Currently, PSP has identified eight polytechnics and community colleges in the Northern Zone; PSA has six in the Central Zone; and PJB eight in the Southern Zone.

"This announcement by the Ministry of Education is indeed a significant milestone for the Cisco Networking Academy Program in Malaysia because it shows the support and the commitment from the government towards the Internet. The Cisco Networking Academy is our way of contributing to the economies of the countries where we do business and we hope to be as successful here with the program as we have been worldwide," said Bill Chang, Regional Managing Director, ASEAN, Cisco Systems.

The Cisco Networking Academy Program has over 264,000 students enrolled in more than 9,700 academies in 144 countries around the world. In the Asia Pacific region, there are over 40,000 students enrolled in 922 academies in 25 countries. Over 19,000 students from around the region have already completed the program and are either pursuing more advanced networking courses or out in the workforce.

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Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at www.cisco.com.

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