Kelantan - THE annual Flora Festival in Kelantan can become a platform to showcase local architectural designs which give emphasis to the state`s rich diversity in culture and heritage.
Organising chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said this year`s festival theme Landscaping Through Local Culture was appropriate.
Nowadays, he said many architectural designs were borrowed ideas from Western and Japanese influences.
“We can change with more emphasis put on local designs especially ancient Malay sultanate architecture,” he said after the Raja Perempuan of Kelantan Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid opened the festival at the orchid park in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan recently.
Takiyuddin said there should be more initiatives to allow local architectural designs to flourish and be promoted during social and tourism events especially during greenery campaigns.
For this year, a total of 23,520 tree and sapling species were displayed at an exhibition which is a regular feature at the month-long Sultan of Kelantan Tuanku Ismail Petra`s birthday celebrations.
A landscape competition held among all district councils was won by the Kota Baru (Islamic City) Municipal Council while the schools category was won by SMK Kota Bharu.
Pasir Mas resident Tong Hui Nee, 24, won an individual prize for the best flower creation.
Source: thestar.com.my (9 April 2008)
