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Abg Jo: RWMF stays in Sarawak

Posted on 29 August 2015

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.