KOTA SAMARAHAN, Nov 21: The Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) cultural exchange programmes will help to promote the beauty of local cultures for tourism.
According to a statement, Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Datuk Peter Minos said as a municipality, MPKS seeks to do its part in promoting local cultures and local places of interests for improving the local tourism industry.
“It is a very much welcomed move that BIMP-EAGA is reviving and promoting the cultures of the four neighbouring nations, as it augers well for the four nations.
“Cultures not only bind people and nations but also are the basis for many other wonderful things such as tourism promotion, creating goodwill, bringing neighbours together, breaking down barriers and generating harmony for everyone,” said Peter in his speech when officiating at the BIMP-EAGA cultural exchange programme held at Kota Samarahan Civic Centre, today.
He also noted that Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines as four nations in the ASEAN region, were once under the category of the “Malay Arcipelago”, and for that reasons culturally and historically, they had many things in common.
He opined that one day, perhaps by 2050, Kota Samarahan will be a city with everything therein and one city that will showcase the best in Sarawak in all aspects.
“It will be a centre of four big things, namely knowledge, health, tourism and commerce, and I can see that coming, given the present rate of growth and expansion,” he added.
Peter pointed out that when that time comes, residential homes will also be popping up like mushrooms every day.
“Honestly, I cannot keep track of what is coming up and going on in Samarahan, talking as the one working and residing here,” he added. — DayakDaily
