Abg Jo: RWMF stays in Sarawak

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Abang Johari (left) presents a memento to one of the sponsors for the festival.

Abang Johari (left) presents a memento to one of the sponsors for the festival.

KUCHING: The venue for the internationally-acclaimed Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) will not be moved or hosted by any other state any time soon.

Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg debunked rumours that this home-grown tourism product might be hosted elsewhere in Malaysia when met by thesundaypost during a press conference held at the Sarawak Cultural Village yesterday.

“I acknowledge that other states try to organise similar festivals but their venues might not be suitable compared to us here in Sarawak, as we are located right in the rainforest itself.

“This is a natural reserve that has been attracting the tourists and we must preserve this,” he said, referring to the Sarawak Cultural Village grounds.

Abang Johari, who is also Housing Minister, added that this time around they have made some adjustments to the festival.

“We want this festival to be not only for the people in the music industry but also families and their children.

“For the first time, we are collaborating with the State Library to present a lot of reading materials for families with children to familiarise them to culture and performing arts.

“The festival of children’s literature will also be providing workshops for children at the festival, called Pustaka Bookaroo,” he said.

The handicraft centre has also been improved where traditional handicrafts as well as local attractions available in Sarawak are being showcased.

“The tourism showcase at the booth entrance which attracted a lot of attention last year has been expanded this time around. We are also bringing two of our local Sarawak performers, such as the DBNA Penrissen Cultural Group that will showcase the dances and music of the Bidayuh community,” he said, adding that the group also included the renowned Ring Ladies, a sub-tribe of Bidayuh people wearing copper rings on their forearms and calves.

Another cultural group from the Iban community will be showcasing ‘Muzik Pampat’ which is usually performed during the Gawai Dayak Festival, Gawai Kenyalang and Gawai Antu.

He pointed out that one of the complaints that they had received from visitors was air connectivity.

“I am trying my best to get this connectivity problem sorted out, and of course there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

“I hope I can do this and we want two hubs to be connected to us in future, which are Singapore and Hong Kong, making it convenient for our friends who want to come here,” he said.

For 2015, the festival hopes to attract a crowd of 20,000 for the three-day festival, with 40 per cent coming from outside Malaysia.

“We hope that by having this festival, we can appreciate what music is all about. Music transcends borders.

“I also hope that it helps to maintain our culture and understanding and to share what we have in this land,” he added.

Mementos were also presented to sponsors including Malaysia Airlines, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Sarawak, Sarawak Energy Berhad, MyTeksi Sdn Bhd, Wicked Wave Sdn Bhd, Sumber Permata Sdn Bhd, GBN Corporation Sdn Bhd,Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation, Culture Poland, Canada Council for the Arts, and Embassy of Mexico in Malaysia.

Among those who attended the press conference were Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive director Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik and Sarawak Tourism Board events and corporate relations director Angelina Bateman.