Talent devt program may be extended to Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: The Permata Seni programme, aimed at developing the talents of children with potentials in the field of culture at the young age, may be extended to Sabah.
National Culture and Arts Department (JKKN) Director-General Datuk Norliza Rofli said the programme was perceived to be capable of playing a role in highlighting the rich dance culture in Sabah.
She said the proposal would be referred to the wife of the prime minister, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also the patron of Permata Seni soon.
“The proposal to create the Permata Seni programme in the states had already been made.
“We can see that there are several children in Sabah who are very talented and we can set up the Permata Seni Sabah, insya-Allah we can bring the motion to Datin Seri (Rosmah),” she told reporters after the National Culture Guidance Programme festival here on Friday night.
Also present at the festival were Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun and Sabah JKKN Director Jasmi Rasit.
Masidi in his closing speech urged the National Culture and Arts Department to include more Sabah traditional dances in their performances and programmes in Peninsular Malaysia.
He said Sabah has over 30 ethnics speaking over 50 dialects, and exposing more of their unique traditional dances in the Peninsular would provide the rest of the country a glimpse of the State’s rich and diversified culture.
“Apart from the amazing flora and fauna found in the our natural environment, visitors have often said they loved coming to Sabah due to the colourful culture and warmness of its people.
“Promoting traditional dances is important, as part of our effort to ensure the continuation and survival of our cultural heritage among the younger generation,” he said.
A total of 270 students from the most outstanding participating schools in Sabah gave their performance at the festival, accompanied by dancers from the famed Permata Seni Tari Kuala Lumpur.
Apart from traditional dances, the programme also gave participating students the opportunity to learn or improve their skills in music, silat and theatre.
For this year, 59 primary schools, 49 secondary schools and 11 other organizations from Sabah and Labuan took part in the programme.
Source : Borneo Post
