INTERESTING: Lee points to one of the masterpieces on display at the Borneo Integration Visual Art Exhibition, while Ismail (second left), Lawrence (third left) and Salian look on.
MIRI: Sarawakians have been advised to stay clear of “extreme political ideology” as it could jeopardise existing strong racial unity and harmony in the state.
Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin said any party which fooled around with racial and religious issues must be totally rejected by the rakyat.
“The existing racial unity and harmony must be preserved at all cost,” he said when officiating at the Borneo Integration Visual Art Exhibition at Pustaka Miri yesterday.
On the exhibition, Lee, who is Senadin incumbent, said he was happy to note that many artists today had successfully helped to foster society’s understanding of local culture through their masterpieces.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the School of Arts Studies of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Associate Prof Dr Ismail Ibrahim, spoke of the need to intensify efforts to widen society’s appreciation of arts. Among those present at the gathering were Miri mayor Lawrence Lai and the regional manager of Pustaka Miri Salian Zawawi.
More than 100 artworks by lecturers and students of UMS, together with several local artists, are currently on public display. Apart from the exhibition, seven working papers were presented by UMS lecturers during
a mini symposium which concentrated on various aspects of art in Borneo.