MALAYSIA TO ESTABLISH ITSELF AS ASIAN ART HUB - TOURISM MINISTER

From Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

HONG KONG, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is to begin promoting its art abroad
in the move to establish itself as the Asian Art hub, Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen
Yen said here.

"We need to create networking and start collaborating with other countries,
which will enable our art to be showcased in those countries," she said.

For a start, Malaysia would tap into the Hong Kong art market as Hong Kong
had "a very strong and passionate art community," she said to reporters after
visiting various art galleries in Hollywood Road, here.

Ng, who is on a four-day tourism promotion mission to Hong Kong and
Shenzhen, said the government had taken the first step to promote Malaysian art
abroad by participating in the upcoming Hong Kong International Art and Antiques
fair.

The annual fair, to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition
Centre from Oct 3 to 6 this year, has attracted more than 70 exhibitors.

"We want the world to know that the Malaysian government is committed to
promoting art tourism and turning the country into Asia's hub," she said.

She also said that Malaysia's first art auction recorded RM1.5 million in
sales of local paintings.

"The tremendous response received during the auction reflects that we should
start developing art tourism and turn Malaysia into the art hub for Asian
countries," she said.

Ng also held a meeting with five clan associations in Shenzhen, and said her
ministry was also promoting clan tourism.

She also said that she would intensify promotion of the "Malaysia My Second
Home" (MM2H) programme among the Chinese.
-- BERNAMA