Tanjung Pinang, Malaysia Establish Cultural Cooperation

TANJUNG PINANG, Riau Islands, May 3 (Antara) - The administration of Tanjung Pinang City, Riau Islands Province, has established a cultural cooperation with the Cultural Council of Johor, Malaysia, to develop Malay cultures. "The people of Riau Islands and Malaysia have long-standing emotional connections as a Malay family. The evidence of the relationship is established from the historical roots of the Riau-Johor-Lingga-Pahang Kingdoms that can still be seen on Penyengat Island, Tanjungpinang, and Lingga," Tanjungpinang Mayor H. Lis Darmansyah said while welcoming the Board of Culture of Johor, here, on Tuesday. According to Lis, Riau Islands and Malaysia have common art sand cultures that strengthen the relationship from generation to generation. "The spirit of Malay should continue to be enhanced to encourage the next generation," the mayor stated. Lis hoped the visit by the Johor Cultural Assembly to Tanjung Pinang will enhance the cultural and economic relations between both parties. The Tanjung Pinang City Administration will open access for Malaysian businesses to develop investment in the city. "In the future, we want to be a center city that enables cooperation between Johor entrepreneurs and Tanjung Pinang businesses. Actually, the cooperation has been established. Many Johor people have businesses in Tanjung Pinang and vice versa, but not formal. The people from two areas have marital relations too," said he stated. Meanwhile, the Johor Bahru Regional Officer, Tuan Haji Mohamad Fuad Bin H. Radwan, appreciated Tanjung Pinang City Administration for establishing cooperation in the fields of culture and economy. "From the history of the Malay Kingdom, the people of Riau Islands and Johor are allied. Even though our kingdoms are separate, our languages, cultures, and religions are the same," he revealed. Fuad has traced the history of the Malay Kingdom and has visited Penyengat Island, which has many relics of the Malay Kingdom.