Sabah to preserve its folk art – Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is trying its best to preserve its folk art and other expressive form of arts.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said during the third Folk Art Exhibition opening ceremony at Ming Garden Hotel and Residences near here yesterday that folk art continued to be a reflection of the rich cultures of the people and needed to be perpetuated.

As such, he said the study of local culture had been made into part of the state co-curriculum so that the young would continue to know some aspects of Sabah culture as they are part of the school system.

He also told patrons of the event yesterday which comprised of participants of the 7th Sabah International Folklore Festival that Sabah was one of those places in the world where race and religion were never made into issues.

“It is interesting that while some countries in the world still grapple with all sorts of ethic clashes and religious clashes, somehow in Sabah, we manage to stay true to the adage that all human beings are the same. Inter-marriages are common in Sabah, and in a single family unit, there are Christians, Muslims, Buddhists living in the same house…this is perhaps some form of achievement in Sabah,” he said.

He added that despite being culturally diverse, the people remain integrated, even though they may practice different culture.

Source : Borneo Post