chairman Dr Collin Jerome, Unimas deputy vice chancellor (student and alumni affairs) Prof Datuk Mohd Fadzil Abdul
Rahman and others at Kuching Waterfront. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has announced that greater opportunity lay ahead for the local entertainment industry starting next year. According to him, the state government will focus on developing local talents, especially in theatre and movie making. “The state government will provide a platform and an opportunity for the theatre and musical practitioners to showcase their artworks and promote local culture to the world through the silver screen. “And thus, serving as an exposure to the local talent,” said Johari in his speech during the “Rindok Sarawak” 2018 carnival held at Kuching Waterfront on Saturday.
He added that the initiative would be announced in the next three months. “This is an opportunity for all, and the state government would continue to focus on the cultural and language development in state, systematically, for the benefit of the people,” he said. Meanwhile, Johari also congratulated Unversiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) for its successful “Rindok Sarawak” 2018 carnival as an effort to preserve the local culture.
He noted that this would provide a better understanding for the future generation to know their identity, as well as the local culture. Johari stressed Sarawak has over 40 ethnic groups, having their own unique cultures while having high tolerance among the races. “Sarawak is a hybrid community, with its own unique culture, and through mixed-races marriages, we tend to know and understand each other’s culture,” he said.
The “Rindok Sarawak” 2018 carnival was organised by Unimas and supported by the state government to celebrate and preserve the unique multi-cultured and traditional lifestyles in Sarawak. With the theme “Cultures Unite the Nation”, “Rindok Sarawak” includes several programmes such as script-writing and drama workshop, Sarawak English Drama Competition 2018 (Sedcomp 2018), and documentation projects focusing on documentating traditional games, folklores, food and handicrafts which are largely unknown to the general public.
