'Muzika' Programme A Platform To Strengthen Bilateral Ties - Minister Salleh

SINGAPORE, July 7 (Bernama) -- The ‘Muzika Ekstravaganza’ programme is one of a number of platforms to further strengthen Malaysia and Singapore ties, says Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Minister Dr Salleh Said Keruak. "(Forming) close ties through the sharing of art and culture like this is not limited to both countries, but also extends to the entire archipelago," he told reporters before attending the show’s recording at the MES Theatre in Mediacorp Campus, here. Salleh and his wife Raya Erom were greeted by Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim. Also present were Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Ministry secretary-general Dr Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad and the Malaysian National News Agency’s (Bernama) general manager Zulkefli Salleh. Salleh is in Singapore for two days to attend programmes related to Malaysia and Singapore’s first joint-committee meeting on information and communications which began Thursday. One of the events was the ‘Muzika Programme’ which entered its 11th year of being co-produced by Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) and Mediacorp Singapore. The ‘Muzika Ekstravaganza’ programme will be broadcast simultaneously via RTM’s TV2 and Mediacorp’s Suria channels beginning at 9pm, Friday. The show emphasises the close relationship and cooperation among the officials, broadcasters and artistes of both countries. Malaysian artistes who performed at the show Thursday night were Azharina, Syamel, Ernie Zakri, Azrul Cham and Eryn Gani, while Singapore paraded local artistes such as Sufi Rashid, Sarah Aqilah, Liwani Izzati, Iskandar Ismail and Sunny Jackson. Salleh is also expected to meet the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Josephine Teo, on Friday. -- BERNAMA