CULTURE, PILLAR OF THE NATION'S GLORY AND SOVEREIGNTY

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- A society is gauged not only through
infrastructure development, economic or military strength, but also through
its heritage, culture and arts, the Malaysian Prime Minister's wife, Rosmah
Mansor, said Sunday.

"Culture is the pillar of the nation's glory and sovereignty. In this
context, we, in Malaysia, are fortunate to be blessed with various cultures. The
fusion and unification of these different cultural elements have made our nation
unique, strong and attractive," she said when opening the Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia
(1Malaysia Holidays) Dance Festival at Merdeka Square here.

The festival was organised by the Tourism Ministry in collaboration with the
Information Communication and Culture Ministry.

Rosmah said the people should be proud of the nation's diversity and to make
use of the opportunity to learn about them.

"I believe that with the willingness to accept the uniqueness of our
culture, it can sow the feeling of love and further enhance unity among us," she
added.

She congratulated the Tourism Ministry for the initiative taken to enhance
the image and uniqueness and the diversity through the art of dance.


She said dancing was also a form of exercise and could be an effective
medium to unite the people.

"I am confident that the concept of this Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Dance can be
another tourism product which can be promoted at the international level," she
added.

She said the dance could provide an interesting experience for tourists to
feel the uniqueness of 1Malaysia.

Rosmah said the people should take it upon themselves to become tourism
ambassadors by helping to promote and develop the country's tourism industry.

She also said that the success of the country's tourism industry did not
depend only on efforts by the government or the Tourism Ministry, but required
the participation of everyone.


Present were Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen, Information
Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim and his
deputy, Senator Heng Seai Kie.

Later at a news conference, Ng said the Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Dance Festival
would be made an annual event and the dance would be made the official dance at
all Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia programmes.

She said the event, which involved 12,000 participants from the
non-governmental organisations, public and private institutions of higher
learning and government agencies, had been entered into the Malaysia Guinness
Book of Records.

"I believe the dance is able to reflect the harmony and peace enjoyed by the
people," she added.

Meanwhile, Heng, in a separate news conference, said such a programme could
boost the country's tourism sector and attract foreign tourists to learn
Malaysian traditional dances.

She said it was also important to promote cultural integration among the
people to realise the 1Malaysia concept.

-- BERNAMA