Sabah Honoured to Host 7th Malaysia Unesco Day

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah), Sept 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's state of Sabah is honoured to be chosen as host of the seventh Malaysia Unesco Day celebration from Sept 9 to 10 in Kundasang, Ranau, about 98 km from here, more than 50 years since Malaysia became a member of Unesco. State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Masidi Manjun said the event, to be officiated by Malaysia’s Education Minister-cum-president of the Malaysian National Commission for Unesco (SKUM), Mahdzir Khalid, would also be attended by Dr Shahbaz Khan, director of and representative of Unesco, Jakarta, as an invited guest. “The event aims to increase the visibility and role of the Malaysian National Commission for Unesco and to strengthen cooperation between the commission and government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the public,” Masidi told a press conference, here, Thursday. SKUM consists of six permanent sub-committees which include the Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry. “Bringing the Malaysia Unesco Day celebration to Sabah, particularly to Kundasang, Ranau, is timely and essential to ensure the public and local communities are well informed of the government's serious effort to ensure the well-being of our public and local native communities through conservation of the environment and its associated socio-cultural elements,” Masidi said. He noted that since 10 years ago, the federal government and Sabah government, through his ministry, had channelled more than RM52.3 million to ensure the natural environment and biodiversity of Sabah were safeguarded, and simultaneously catalysed the enhancement of nature-based tourism development. He said in December 2000, Unesco recognised Kinabalu Park as Malaysia's first World Heritage Site for its ‘outstanding universal values’ and its role as one of the most important biological sites in the world. Masidi said there would be exhibition booths during the two-day event to enable the public to get to know more about Malaysia's involvement and initiatives in Unesco. Besides the ‘Weather Forecast Announcer’ competition organised by the Malaysian Meteorological Department, several musicians will be taking part in the 'Battle of the Bands’ on Sept 9. Among the local artistes who will be performing at the event are Keningau YouTube stars Atmosfera, bamboo flute player and champion at the World Championship of Performing Arts 2016, Kamarul Kowasin, and singers Asmin Mudin and Fabian William. -- BERNAMA