Artists From Five Countries To Eleven Malay Feast Art In Batam

BATAM, Riau Islands, Nov 24 (Antara) - A number of artists from five ASEAN member countries---Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia---will enliven a three-day Malay Feast Art event here from Friday to Sunday (Nov 25-27). "This year's event will be the 18th Malay Feast Art," the head of Tourism and Cultural Affairs office of Batam city, Yusfa Hendri, said here on Thursday. Indonesia will be represented by an art group from West Sumatra's "50 Kota" district, the Riau provincial city of Pekanbaru and an art group from Batam. In addition, other events such as the "Asam Pedas" cooking competition will enliven the Malay Feast Art, Hendri explained. A variety of processed snails will also be showcased at the event. The cooking competition will feature luxury dining with Batam menu. Twenty cooks from several star-rated hotels in Batam will participate. On the second night of the Feast Art, poets from various countries will recite their compositions. These include Annie Din from Singapore, Nik Rakkib Nik Hassan from Thailand and poets from the Riau Islands, including Ramon Damora, Samson Rambah Pasir and Taufik Muntasir. In addition, deputy mayor of Batam, Amsakar Achmad, and local legislator Hardy Selamat Hood are also expected to participate in the poetry reading session. On the third night, Teater Bangsawan from the "Batam Bisa Production" and "Bulan Mengambang" will present a special drama, Hendri pointed out. The event, being held under the theme of "Unity in Diversity," is open to the public for free, the official added.