Preserve Characteristics & Designs Of Textiles As A Symbol Of National Identity- M'sian Pm's Wife

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- Rosmah Mansor, wife of Prime Minister Najib Razak, hoped the National Textile Museum would contribute towards preserving the traditional characteristics and designs of textiles as a symbol of national identity. She hoped that the museum would also serve as a reference centre for students, researchers, academicians and those involved in the textile industry. "The establishment of this museum provides an opportunity for textile operators in the country to use the artifacts in the museum as reference materials to produce textiles based on motifs and designs with high heritage value," she said when opening the museum here Tuesday. Also present at the function were Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim and wife, Masnah Rais, the ministry's secretary-general, Kamaruddin Siaraf, and wife, Rohayah Harun, and Museum Department Director-General Ibrahim Ismail. The setting up of the National Textile Museum, approved by the Cabinet in July 2005, was mooted by the late Endon Mahmood, the wife of former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. It was opened to the public on Feb 9 last year. Rosmah also suggested that the museum set up networking cooperation with other textile museums, like those in Paris, London and Jakarta. "This cooperation can be carried out in the form of holding joint-exhibitions," she added. -- BERNAMA