"FACES OF 1MALAYSIA" A SHOWCASE OF HARMONY, CULTURE AND TALENT

From Tham Choy Lin

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Bernama) -- The "Faces of 1Malaysia" cultural and
handicraft festival to be showcased here will provide the American people the
opportunity to appreciate the harmony of talents of Malaysia's diverse community
and its rich culture and arts.

Malaysian Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais
Yatim said he was confident of getting tremendous response for the festival,
scheduled for public viewing on Sunday and for a specially invited audience on
Tuesday.

"What we want to portray is that we can be harmonious in arts and culture.
Therefore, we will show the American people that Malaysia depends greatly on the
blending of talents of the people to survive in today's situation of a global
community," he said after watching a rehearsal of a cultural performance at the
National Geographic building Friday.

The segment for public viewing at the building will be opened by Rosmah
Mansor, wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Najib will open the "Faces of 1Malaysia" gala night at the Mandarin Oriental
Hotel, which will be attended by invited members of Congress, political
observers, arts enthusiasts and businessmen, among others.

Dr Rais said the performances drawn up reflect the new era under Najib's
leadership and would help to foster closer bilateral relations between Malaysia
and the United States.

"This is the first time we are organising a cultural show in the context of
diplomacy and friendship. Many quarters believe that man can better understand
one another through the arts," he said.

The cultural shows, which include primary school children and youths, would
portray Malaysia as a cosmopolitan country which has successfully created an
environment of the arts, Dr Rais said.

He also said that these performances were a stepping stone to Malaysia's
participation in the annual Sakura Spring Festival as well as social events
here.

Dr Rais and his wife, Masnah Rais, arrived here Friday afternoon.


Dr Rais has a hectic schedule here because he is the acting foreign minister
and would accompany Najib at the prime minister's bilateral talks with United
States' President Barack Obama and also attend the Nuclear Security Summit and
the series of meetings associated with foreign relations.

This responsibility is nothing new to Dr Rais for he has held the post of
foreign minister under the administrations of former prime ministers Dr
Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

-- BERNAMA