MSIA HAS GOOD POTENTIAL IN FINE ARTS INDUSTRY

From Voon Miaw Ping

HELSINKI, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- World-renowned classical music conductor Ooi
Chean See, who also a Tourism Malaysia ambassador, has a mission -- to sell
Malaysian fine arts and culture to the world.

Ooi believes it is high time for Malaysia to attract more sophisticated and
affluent tourists instead of just promoting the country as a value for money
destination with beautiful seas and endless sunshine.

"We also hope to position Malaysia as the destination for fine arts, haute
couture, fine dining and living although we are yet to be compared to other
cities in this field such as Singapore or the European cities.

"These are some of the things that I always tell my friends. Come to
Malaysia for a holiday, we have so much to offer," she said,

She is part of a tourism trade mission delegation with Tourism Minister
Dr Ng Yen Yen to the three Scandinavian markets here. Besides Helsinki, the
delegation has visited Stockholm and will be visiting Copenhagen Thursday.

The northern state of Penang-born Ooi has been based in Bonn, Germany, for
the past 30 years, but Penang, Kuala Lumpur city and east Malaysia state of
Sabah still remain her favourite holiday destinations.

"I love Penang for its food, Kuala Lumpur for its vibrancy and of course
Sabah for its nature," she said.

She was appointed Resident Conductor of the world-class Malaysian
Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) in 1997, making her one of the few women conductors
of the classical music orchestra.

She said her experience and extensive network of business associates in
Europe would allow her to promote Malaysia.

Among the major plans she has drawn up is to bring Malaysian arts and a
cultural troupe and to choreograph a symphony to be performed at the annual
International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin in March next year.

"I will also emphasise folk songs and dances, musical instruments,
traditional art works such as batik painting, calligraphy, and our famous food
and delicacies," she said.

She was made a tourism ambassador in August. Besides her, two other
appointed ambassadors for Tourism Malaysia are renowned shoemaker Jimmy Choo and
Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt, who is also
fiance to Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh.

"I am honoured to be asked to become ambassador for Tourism Malaysia. I hope
to do my best to further promote Malaysia to the European market here," Ooi
said.

Her mission is also in sync with Tourism Malaysia's plan to hold a Malaysian
Arts and Culture Festival from July to September next year.

She said that by developing the Malaysian fine arts industry, it was not
solely to boost the tourism industry, but also to educate Malaysians in this
field and to give Malaysian artists more opportunities and exposure to promote
themselves to the world.

"I think this has got to do with our education system which emphasises
science and technology and academic excellence.

"But we are not too late. I can see that Malaysians have started to show
more interest and appreciation for such things. And I think we need to have a
continuous awareness to inculcate appreciation for the fine arts and culture
among our people, especially the young," she said.
-- BERNAMA