MORE PROGRAMMES BASED ON 1MALAYSIA CONCEPT FOR MINORITY GROUPS - MINISTER

KUCHING (Malaysia), Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Information
Communication and Culture will organise more programmes based on the 1Malaysia
concept for the minority groups in the country, especially in East Malaysia
states of Sabah and Sarawak.

Its minister, Dr Rais Yatim, said the programmes such as cultural,
gotong-royong and social activities would involve the various ethnic groups
including the minority.

"If in peninsular Malaysia we have programmes for the Orang Asli, in
Sarawak we also want the minority groups such as the Penans to be involved in
practical programmes such as in the village feasts, cultural and gotong-royong
activities," he said in a speech at a gathering with the Sarawak media, here
Saturday.

He said programmes that involved the minority groups were important to
ensure that they did not feel omitted or segregated from the 1Malaysia concept.

On the special award conferred to 10 Malaysians -- four from peninsular
Malaysia and three each from Sabah and Sarawak -- who had made significant
contributions to the country, Rais said the number of recipients would be
increased next year.

He said that those who were not listed should not feel that they had been
left out because this was the first year that 1Malaysia was being celebrated and
next year, a bigger celebration was expected to be held.
-- BERNAMA