Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 12^th June 2011: 

If Datuk Seri Rais Yatim wants to promote Art then he need not spend RM100 million but only RM2 million on the month-long George Town Heritage Festival 

Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim should explain the rationale of wasting RM100 million for the 2011 Artistes Day on May 29 that received a lukewarm response from art activists. DAP is shocked by a Bernama report that RM100 million was allocated for the event that was criticised by art activists.

DAP suspects that the Bernama report is false and Datuk Seri Rais explain the actual amount spent. It is difficult to believe that the government can be so reckless as to allocate RM100 million for the 2011 Artistes Day event when 27 million ordinary Malaysians are hurting from rising prices caused by BN's subsidy cuts.

Last year, when tabling the Budget 2011, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced a RM200 million allocation for the purchase of creative products, such as high-quality locally-produced films, dramas and documentaries.

If Datuk Seri Rais Yatim is sincere about promoting arts, then he need only allocate RM2 million not for a one-day event like Artists Day but a month-long event in the George Town Heritage Fest beginning in July by international and local artists. George Town Heritage Fest is held to mark its selection as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 7.7.2008.

Festival Director Joe Sidek has turned the George Town Heritage Fest into one of the few internationally-rated festivals in the country that demonstrates not only the best of all the cultures in Malaysia but also by foreign talents. Hopefully Datuk Seri Rais will allow his love of art and culture to prevail over partisan politics and promote this important Festival.

*Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister