RM20m Cultural Complex reflects strong ties: Rais
Kota Kinabalu: The National Cultural and Arts Department (JKKN) will document the cultures and arts of the various ethnic races in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak.
Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said this was important in order to preserve the originality of the traditional practices and cultures in the two states and free from adulteration especially from external influences.
“The State JKKN Director with our guidance at the centre will start recording and document into several volumes the research on the ethnic races and music as well as drama and traditional songs in the interior villages in Sabah.
“This is also relevant to Sarawak when we start building their Cultural Complex within the allowed period under the 10th Malaysia Plan,” he said when met after opening Sabah JKKN Complex together with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Saturday.
The Minister said audio-visual of cultural performances would be recorded in a high quality by the State JKKN and become part of the national cultural arts references.
On the official opening of the complex, Rais said it not only reflected the strong ties between the federal and state governments but also further empower the national cultural arts struggle.
“We will produce actors, maybe writers, artists in various fields of art and culture apart from drama, theatre, music and other traditional cultural practices,” he said.
The cost of the complex that started to be built on Dec. 12 2007 and completed on Jan 3 this year was RM20.4 million, which was less than its actual cost of RM25 million.
Among the facilities at the complex are an auditorium with a capacity of up to 600 people, studios, open air stage as well as spin top court.
He recalled that at first it was a bit difficult for the project to take off since the area was occupied by local squatters, which in the end was resolved by hard work from all quarters, especially the State Government.
Quoting a famous anthropologist, Rais said culture can be a factor to unite the people and setting aside political and other differences among them.
Musa in his speech commended the Ministry for its sensitivity to build the interesting and beautiful complex with its traditional motifs.
“It depicts the harmony and unity spirit among the people of Malaysia in the state just like the Prime Minister’s recognition that Sabah is the best model for the 1Malaysia spirit,” he said.
He said the setting up of the complex was timely because it assist the State Government realise its efforts to put the state’s culture and arts to a higher pedestal.
He assured that the State Government would continue to give its strong cooperation and support to the Federal government through the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry to ensure all its programmes and government policies for the people’s benefit succeed.
Source : Borneo Post
