MALAYSIAN PM PRAISES ROLE OF FILM INDUSTRY IN EDUCATING HUMANITY

By Neville D'Cruz



MELBOURNE, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has
extolled the role film plays in educating humanity.

In a message to the Malaysian Australian Film Festival which opens here
Sunday night, Najib said film "is a wonderful media for giving life to stories
and imagination."

"But perhaps more importantly it is a most effective tool in educating
humanity about different places, cultures, lifestyles and values of the
thousands of different communities around the globe.

"Through film we can learn more about each other and hopefully this will
lead to greater understanding and stronger ties," he said.

Najib hoped the film festival would be "a great way of exchanging knowledge
and ideas about creativity, techniques and trends in the increasingly
sophisticated craft of film making."

In his message to the festival, Hasnul Hassan, the general manager of the
Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama, said that in an era of globalisation,
films and culture can be a platform for people from different parts of the world
to connect with one another.

"The festival will give the opportunity for Australians to sample and
experience the rich and beautiful culture of Malaysia," Hasnul said and urged
Australians as well as Malaysians living in Australia to take part in "this
exciting festival."

"It will encourage not only cross-border tourism but also business
transaction between our two countries," Hasnul said.

Bernama, a statutory body under the Malaysian Information Ministry, is
involved in promoting the event.

The four-day festival at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image,
Federation Square, here, will screen Talentime, Geng the Movie, Cicakman 2 -
Planet Hitam, Pensil, Muallaf and My Telatori.

-- BERNAMA