INFORMATION MINISTRY TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTARIES ON PAST PRIME MINISTERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Information Ministry will be
producing in-depth documentaries on the struggles and lives of past prime
ministers from next year, said its minister Dr Rais Yatim.

He said the contributions of past prime ministers especially Tunku Abdul
Rahman Putra must be known and remembered by all Malaysians.

"As Malaysia's first prime minsiter, the contributions of Tunku Abdul Rahman
and his friends as freedom fighters in championing the nation's independence and
building post-Independence Malaysia is something we must always hold dear.

"The annual remembrance my ministry holds for Tunku Abdul Rahman also needs
to be more diversified," he said after attending a prayer session in remembrance
of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman at the Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial here
Sunday.

He said the ministry would also be holding programmes like quizzes and
academic discussions which would focus on the contributions of Tunku Abdul
Rahman and the other former prime ministers at the school and higher education
levels.

Besides this, Rais said, remembrance functions for Tunku Abdul Rahman
should
also be held by all states irrespective of their political allegiance.

He also urged all political parties to do likewise.

"When it concerns Tunku Abdul Rahman, leave politics aside. If not for him,
the political parties in the country would not be around to pursue their
political goals," he said.

In other developments, Rais said the decline in tourists visiting the Tunku
Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial was because of a lack of promotion by tour operators
who did not list it in their itineraries.

"We will bring this matter up with the Tourism Ministry. Not only this
memorial but also others in the country," he said.

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial was opened in November 1994 and on
display at it are all heritage related to Tunku Abdul Rahman, including
documents, photographs, gifts he received, newspaper cuttings, his wardrobe and
also furniture used by him besides audiovisual presentations.

-- BERNAMA