OPENING OF ART FOR PEACE FORUM
SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
AT THE OPENING OF ART FOR PEACE FORUM
3 JULY 2019
E&O HOTEL
A very good morning to all of you.
First and foremost, I would like to thank Global Chinese Arts and Culture Society for inviting me to be part of this prestigious Forum.
In relation to the Groundbreaking Ceremony of Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery which was held yesterday together with IJM, I commend Prof. Lin for bringing in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to Penang. The soon-to-be constructed Art and Culture Education Centre which will be housed in the Art Gallery and endorsed by UNESCO; makes this as one of the first in Penang.
Ever since George Town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, and with all the accolades bestowed upon Penang, the state attracted new visitors and new ideas. Hence, with the UNESCO office here, Penang will be a new hub to meet; to trade ideas and thoughts.
I am proud to say that this is the first time a Forum of such grandeur involving several UNESCO experts and specialists from Europe, Asia, including distinguished scholars and experts in the field of culture, language, history, arts, philosophy and aesthetic from China, Singapore and Malaysia are gathered here, all with one aim – to promote peace through arts.
Back to the olden days when communication was made using stone carvings on the wall and hieroglyphs to encode messages till the emergence of modern-day writing, it is apparent that humans and arts are intertwined.
Art covers literature, painting, sculpture and building, while music and dance as well as the integrated art of drama, movie and television make up the present-day components of spiritual civilization, and life support, together with material civilization, it becomes the integral parts of human life as entirety.
Art conveys emotional messages from artist to its viewers. Hence, art is also a form of expression, apart from communication. In this 21st century era which we are living in now, we are surrounded by various issues which are threatening humanity, and world peace as a whole. Sometimes meetings and discussion does not seem to help in solving problems, so it is during times like this that art plays a unique role to promote peace. This is because art is neutral and there is no difference in race, religion and nationality, thus it is a force which has the power to unite humankind. Art plays a different social function in the development of human society, and in the realm of cultural system.
Hence, this forum provides a platform on how art plays a crucial role in promoting peace and harmony in Penang society and in enabling people from different background and different races to understand each other hence making Penang to continue as peaceful and better place to live in.
As what Greek philosopher Plato said, “Art has no end but its own perfection.”
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Penang State Government will continue to play our role to uplift arts as it could help to generate economic growth for the state and the country. Penang’s tourism sector which is now known as PETACH under the leadership of State Tourism Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee Chairman, YB Yeoh Soon Hin is actively planning and promoting Penang to become the hub for arts in Southeast Asia for the coming 10 years.
Recently, we launched Penang Tourism Master Plan with its tagline ‘The Diversity of Asia’, Experience Penang Year 2020 (EPY2020). In line with the Penang2030 vision, this master plan is a comprehensive tool for the state to develop and strengthen our tourism brand from 2019 to 2030, focusing in arts, culture and heritage under one roof. This master plan will strategically position Penang in a competitive international market. Among the strategies are to position Penang as an international tourist hub, manage sustainable tourism and to cultivate appreciation for heritage and to engage the community with tourism economy.
As we all known, manufacturing sector in Penang is overtaken by the services sector as the top contributor to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But it does not mean that the other sector should be neglected. For that reason, the State Government is doubling the effort to propel the tourism industry, which is now become one of the main sectors within the ambit of the services sector, to be the engine of growth for Penang along with manufacturing which has been in the lead for the past decades.
Penang has received numerous accolades and recognition which never fail to amuse and attract tourists; both foreign and locals alike with its plethora of delectable world-renowned hawker delights, kaleidoscope of cultures and a myriad of local attractions.
Before I conclude - a very warm welcome to all the distinguished speakers of the Art for Peace Forum, and I hope you will enjoy the diverse attractions which Penang has to offer.
I would like to commend Global Chinese Arts and Culture Society for collaborating with Association Memoire De L’ Avenir, UNESCO Management of Social Transformations (MOST) Programme and The International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences (CIPSH) for organizing this prestigious Forum.
May all of you have an enjoyable and informative Forum!
Thank you.