EXHIBITION ON M'SIAN CULTURE, CRAFTS IN WASHINGTON IN APRIL

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- An exhibition on Malaysian culture and
crafts will be held during the Malaysia Day progamme in Washington from April 11
to 14 in conjunction with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's visit to
the United States.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said
this would help the international community to get to know Malaysia better
besides gaining a deeper insight into Malaysian culture and crafts.

Najib, who will be attending the International Nuclear Conference in
Washington, would most likely be bringing several songket artifacts to be
presented to President Barack Obama, he told reporters after the launching of
the National Craft Day 2010 at the Craft Complex here Thursday.

The event was launched by the Prime Minister's wife, Rosmah
Mansor. Also present were the Prime Minister's mother Hajah Rahah Mohd Noah,
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's wife Noorainee Abdul
Rahman and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat
Abdul Jalil.

Rais said on April 13, Najib was scheduled to host a dinner for top
dignitaries of Wahsington.



"At the dinner, we will showcase Malaysian dances, music and stageshows
suited to the tastes of the American community. It is to highlight various
aspects of our culture at the international level," he said.

The delegation involved will then head to New York on April 16 for community
activities and participate in a dinner to raise funds for charity.

Rais also said national craft sales this year was expected to exceed RM100
million with over 6,400 craftspersons benefiting from it.

The National Craft Day 2010 held at the Craft Complex in Jalan Conlay here
will go on for a month.

Various activities including craft sales promotions, exhibitions, design
workshops, fashion shows, interactive craft making demonstrations will be held
from 10am to 8pm each day to introduce Malaysian craft products to people from
all walks of life.

-- BERNAMA