Abdul Karim declares open the concert.
KUCHING: Minister of Arts, Culture and Tourism Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has urged youths, particularly those from Sarawak, to come together to improve the lives of the less fortunate.
He pointed out that not everyone is born with a silver spoon.
“Some are poor, some are born with illness or disability, some became orphans.
“Together we should change our own outlook and colour the lives of those who are going through hardships, as many others are not as fortunate as we are,” he said when officiating at the Paint The World International Concert 2020 held at the old DUN Building yesterday.
The minister welcomed the performances lined up by the international movement founded and led by Georgian Lika Torikashvili and her Malaysian counterpart Aziza Aznizan who is also the state’s former youth icon.
Abdul Karim saw the concert as a very positive event to benefit all youths, particularly the less fortunate and disabled children.
“It is a very noble thing to do, as it is something to give colours and to brighten the lives of others,” he noted.
About 700 attended the concert including about 300 from children’s homes, non-governmental organisations, centres and associations.
Besides the various dances and performances by international performers, there were also talks and a fashion show.
One of the highlight was talks by Shazia Ramzan and Kainat Riaz, two Pakistani girls who are friends of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. They were also injured in the Taliban assassination attempt on Malala in 2012.