Make Miri a premier film destination – Lee

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Patrick (right), handing over a lucky draw prize, a complimentary ticket for the proposed Inaugural Tourism
Award 2015, to a winner.

MIRI: Assistant Minister of Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin called for integrated efforts from all sectors to help make Miri City a premier film destination in the region or at least in Malaysia.

He said the newly set up Miri Film Tourism Association (MFTA) could take the lead in promoting Miri to film makers in and outside Malaysia.

“Film is one of the best ways to promote any destination to attract more people to come. If you follow the Korean movies for example, seeing the beautiful places there through films, could attract people to visit Korea.

In Miri, we have many scenic and beautiful places to visit and also potential spots to make films or movies. Thus concerted efforts including from non-governmental organisations, political parties or business sectors could work closely with the government in developing Miri and make it attractive for the development of the film industry,” he said at the Miri Film Tourism Dinner Show on Tuesday night.

Also present were State Assemblymen for Piasau and Pujut respectively, Alan Ling and Fong Pau Teck, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Piasau chairman Adam Yii, patron of the Miri Film Tourism Association’s (MFTA) Datuk Abbas Sempurai, the Association’s president and secretary general, Patrick Jay Jay and Beeny Zakariah as well as presidents of various non-governmental organisations including Srimurniyati Cranfield (Miri Petroleum Ladies Association or PWPM).

Meanwhile Beeny in his welcoming speech said the association registered on Nov 15 aspired to make Miri City a preferred film destination in Malaysia.

Among their activities will be meeting film producers during the Belitong, an Indonesia Showcase from Dec 19 – 21 and meeting producers in Semenanjung Malaysia and Sabah as well as from Mumbai, India.

“We in the association hope for strong support from both the public and private sectors including non-governmental organizations, political parties in providing the necessary infrastructures and helping to identify areas ideal for making films in Miri,” he said.