Melaka Plans To Hold International Cultural Festival

MELAKA (Malaysia), Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Southern state of Melaka plans to hold a year-long international cultural festival involving several countries as a new tourist attraction to the state. The state's Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam said the state government would be inviting countries with a diplomatic mission in Malaysia to promote their respective culture and arts through this festival. "Perhaps each country can hold its cultural festival for a week, thus Melaka will have an international cultural programme throughout the year which can attract more tourists to the state." He said this after officiating at the Cuban National Cultural Day at Casa Cuba in Bukit Peringgit, here, on Tuesday. The occasion was to commemorate the first time the Cuban national anthem was sung on Oct 20, 1868. Also present was Cuban ambassador to Malaysia, Ruben Perez Valdez. Mohd Ali said he had asked the Melaka Historical City Council (MBMB) to set up an international department with the task of organising programmes involving foreign countries towards realising the objective of holding the international cultural festival. -- BERNAMA