ID :
53301
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 13:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/53301
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GROUP IMPRESSED BY KELANTAN`S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INITIATIVES
By MANIK MEHTA
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Members of an international group of
Western tourists recently concluded a four-day visit to the east coast state of
Kelantan where they were left in awe over the "fairytale celebrations" of the
59th birthday of the Sultan.
The group led by Amy Hamidon, wife of Malaysia's permanent representative to
the United Nations in New York, visited Kelantan to not only witness Sultan
Ismail Petra's birthday but to also get first-hand information about the state's
economic and social development.
The group also comprised Diann Moore,a US travel and tour operator, Roland
de Stickere, the retired head of security at the United Nations and his wife
Marie-Claire de Stickere, and Elisa Gaglardi, an Italian museum expert on
Islamic textile art. Gaglardi is writing a book on Malaysia's Islamic textile
art.
For the visitors, the state banquet was an "exquisite feast", with over
1,300 guests invited to attend the event on March 29 at the royal palace.
The visitors also had an opportunity to witness the small-scale enterprises
or cottage industries being promoted by the Sultan's consort as part of efforts
to help spur social and economic development in the state.
"I am deeply impressed by the dedication and entrepreneurial energy of the
people," commented Roland de Stickere who closely observed and examined the
products on display.
One small-scale industry that is doing well with the support of the Sultan's
consort, is a cooperative called Projek Diraja Kelantan (the Kelantan Royal
Project), which produces different kinds of agricultural and food products.
"Her Royal Highness has been helping us during the past five years. You
can describe us as a small-scale cottage industry that produces fresh fruits,
vegetables and processed foods as such.
"Our organisation is divided into ten units or districts, with each such
entity employing about 10 persons. Thus, we not only are able to support
ourselves but also provide a livelihood for others by generating employment,"
the project spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile the Sultan's consort Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid said that she
would like to help the people become self-reliant and the projects that she was
currently supporting include agricultural production, handicrafts and arts.
"We organise a healthy competition among the individual participating units
so that they become not only competitive but also improve quality and innovative
capabilities," she told Bernama in an interview.
The visitors described the assistance of Tengku Anis in the upliftment of
the poor as an "important contribution" to the overall economic and social
development of the state.
"It's a very effective way to help the people who not only can support
themselves but also generate employment for others," Amy said.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Members of an international group of
Western tourists recently concluded a four-day visit to the east coast state of
Kelantan where they were left in awe over the "fairytale celebrations" of the
59th birthday of the Sultan.
The group led by Amy Hamidon, wife of Malaysia's permanent representative to
the United Nations in New York, visited Kelantan to not only witness Sultan
Ismail Petra's birthday but to also get first-hand information about the state's
economic and social development.
The group also comprised Diann Moore,a US travel and tour operator, Roland
de Stickere, the retired head of security at the United Nations and his wife
Marie-Claire de Stickere, and Elisa Gaglardi, an Italian museum expert on
Islamic textile art. Gaglardi is writing a book on Malaysia's Islamic textile
art.
For the visitors, the state banquet was an "exquisite feast", with over
1,300 guests invited to attend the event on March 29 at the royal palace.
The visitors also had an opportunity to witness the small-scale enterprises
or cottage industries being promoted by the Sultan's consort as part of efforts
to help spur social and economic development in the state.
"I am deeply impressed by the dedication and entrepreneurial energy of the
people," commented Roland de Stickere who closely observed and examined the
products on display.
One small-scale industry that is doing well with the support of the Sultan's
consort, is a cooperative called Projek Diraja Kelantan (the Kelantan Royal
Project), which produces different kinds of agricultural and food products.
"Her Royal Highness has been helping us during the past five years. You
can describe us as a small-scale cottage industry that produces fresh fruits,
vegetables and processed foods as such.
"Our organisation is divided into ten units or districts, with each such
entity employing about 10 persons. Thus, we not only are able to support
ourselves but also provide a livelihood for others by generating employment,"
the project spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile the Sultan's consort Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid said that she
would like to help the people become self-reliant and the projects that she was
currently supporting include agricultural production, handicrafts and arts.
"We organise a healthy competition among the individual participating units
so that they become not only competitive but also improve quality and innovative
capabilities," she told Bernama in an interview.
The visitors described the assistance of Tengku Anis in the upliftment of
the poor as an "important contribution" to the overall economic and social
development of the state.
"It's a very effective way to help the people who not only can support
themselves but also generate employment for others," Amy said.
-- BERNAMA
