Fatimah: Vital to preserve cultural identity

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KOTA SAMARAHAN: Preserving the cultural identity of the vast communities living on the island of Borneo is now vital due to rapid globalisation and modern influence.

According to Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, a strategic approach is needed to preserve these cultures especially among the younger generation to ensure that they do not forget their humble roots and prepare them to become better persons in the global
community.

“Local knowledge and wisdom is still very relevant and important to ensure the survival of our identity and socio-culture in this globalised world,” said Fatimah who represented Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem at the closing of the ‘IPT Borneo Dance Festival V 2014’ hosted by UiTM Sarawak on Sunday night.

On the event, she said it was an important platform for students to learn about other communities and have a better understanding and appreciation of foreign cultures, values and traditions besides providing them a chance to network.

“I believe that this festival will inculcate the understanding of the need to have both a national socio-cultural identity as well as a global outlook,” said Fatimah, who is also Dalat assemblywoman.

On another note, she revealed that the formation of Sarawak Arts Council which was tasked to map out the state’s arts and cultural agenda showed that the state government was serious in ensuring the survival of the state’s culture.

Meanwhile, UiTM Sarawak rector Prof Dato Dr Jamil Hamali said that the biennial dance festival was mooted by the university in 2006.

This year, a total of 12 universities in Borneo took part in the festival, among them were Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Putra Malaysia (Bintulu campus), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Labuan international campus), Unitar International University (Sarawak), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak and UiTM Sabah.

Representing the western, eastern, southern and central zones in Kalimantan were Universitas Tanjung Pura, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Universitas Palangkaraya, Universiti Mulawarman and Universitas Borneo Tarakan.

Jamil announced that the host for the sixth edition of the IPT Borneo Dance Festival in 2016 would be Universiti Mulawarman in East Kalimantan.