RICHNESS OF MALAYSIA`S CIVILISATION PORTRAYED IN OXFORD VARSITY

From Mohd Nasir Yusoff

LONDON, Feb 12 (Bernama) –- The richness of Malaysia's civilisation has been
translated into a beautiful hall decorated with wood carvings at the Oxford
Centre for Islamic Studies, here.

Malaysia's Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais
Yatim said the RM12 million (US$3.5 million) project was a translation of the
very rich civilisation which would remain as Malaysia's heritage for the
development and history of world and Islamic civilisation.

"The hall's surroundings will reflect part of the Malaysian civilisation.

"We will be proud of Malaysia's capability in contributing and continuing to
project our cultural inputs and heritage," he said after visiting the project
Friday.

It would remain to be an important part of the Oxford Centre for Islamic
Studies which was built with contributions from the Malaysian government in the
interest of academy while highlighting the Malaysian cultural heritage.


Rais said efforts to create the cultural environment through wood carvings
started in 2007 with carvings by sculptors specially flown in from Terengganu.

The minister, who was accompanied by his wife Masnah Rais and the
Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University, Dr Farhan Ahmad
Nizami, inspected every inch of the hall which was being completed as well as
the carvings on merbau, cengal and teak wood.

Rais said that the project, which was earlier implemented by the Ministry of
Culture, Arts and Heritage would be continued by the Ministry of Information
Communication and Culture.

The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, which was set up in 1985, is the
foremost centre for Islamic studies in the world.

-- BERNAMA