Campaigning For Penang, Melaka To Be Named World Heritage Cities

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal Monday launched the "Authentic Malaysia" exhibition at the Unesco Hall in Paris as part of the campaign for Penang and Melaka to be named world heritage cities.

The Malaysian Embassy in Paris said in a statement that Shafie, who is on a six-day official visit to France, will also host a lunch for the ambassadors and permananent representatives of Unesco.

Malaysia has been waiting for nearly three years to get Unesco recognition for Penang and Melaka to be named world heritage cities, it said in the statement faxed to Bernama.

Mohd Shafie, who is also chairman of the Umno Overseas Club, yesterday met with the members of the newly established Umno Club of France and also addressed members of the Malaysian Association in France at its annual general meeting at the embassy, the statement said.

The minister, who arrived in Paris on Saturday accompanied by his wife Datin Shuryani Shuib and officials from the ministry, will visit the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts, the most prestigious and influential art school in France.

Shafie will also visit the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, which showcases the indigenous art and civilisations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, and was the brainchild of former French president Jacques Chirac.

He will also visit the Guimet Museum, an Asian art museum created in 1889.

The museum contains fine collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and many objects relating not only to the artwork of the East but also to those of ancient Egypt and the classical antiquity.

Shafie is scheduled to return to Malaysia on Thursday.

-- BERNAMA