MIRI: More sisterhood programmes should be organised in order to foster closer bilateral relations among people from different countries.
Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin said he believed such an initiative could promote cross-cultural understanding for mutual benefits.
That was why, Lee said, he fully supported the implementation of the sisterhood programme between SMK St. Joseph and Imgok Middle School of South Korea.
The programme between the schools entered its second year this year following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 4, 2009.
On July 30 last year, the programme finally took off when 30 students came here, with SMK St. Joseph reciprocating on Nov 1.
“This programme, in the long run, promises a good future. This is because it will indirectly produce ambassadors of goodwill for the respective countries,” Lee said at the `Appreciation Night Sisterhood & Brass Band’ at Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club (EVGCC) on Sunday.
He hoped the participants would observe the objectives of the programme and tap its potential to establish a good social network.
Lee said perhaps the school could also develop a similar understanding with countries in the neighbourhood, such as Singapore.
On the school’s brass band, he said he was happy to note the group had brought pride to the school as well as the state.
The school’s brass band had emerged victorious at the `Asian School Brass Band’ competition in Hong Kong and second placing at the national-level brass band competitions recently.
Among those present were Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis, SMK St. Joseph principle Marcus Gau Lian and chairman of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Cyril Dan.