London - The Limkokwing University‘s Centre for Malay Studies here will be assisted in getting expertise for the interactive teaching of the Malay language and Malay arts and culture to its students.
Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal who visited the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology here Monday, gave the assurance that experts in the fields would be seconded to the centre for the purpose.
He said he would also ask the National Arts and Culture Academy (Aswara) to loan their teaching staff to the centre.
Limkokwing University had asked for the ministry‘s help in getting experts to teach and promote the Malay World to the centre‘s students who currently number 350.
The university requires several lecturers and experts for the Malay Studies centre, which was simultaneously launched with the Limkokwing University London campus by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Oct 1, 2007.
Mohd Shafie said he was impressed with the seriousness of Limkokwing University in focusing on Malay language, arts and cultural studies to students from different racial and cultural backgrounds.
"Better understanding of a race by learning its language, culture and traditions could reduce friction and conflicts among people of the world," said the minister who is here for the ‘Malaysia Week‘ event which will be launched on July 30.
He also congratulated the ministry‘s cultural troupe which won several awards at the 12th World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles that began on July 17.
"I have seen their performances before and they are really awesome," he added.
Meanwhile, Datuk Sulaiman Othman, the special assistant to the Limkokwing University president, said the university‘s Centre for Malay Studies here had also received the support of various agencies in Malaysia, including Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and Kraftangan Malaysia.
He said the university planned to become a hub for Malay language study and the Malay World‘s resource centre by creating a Chair which would offer studies in Malay anthropology, history, culture and linguistics.
Source: http://www.bernama.com (31 Juli 2008)
