Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Sarawak Government considering to let private sector run Rainforest World Music Festival


KUCHING: The state government plans to let the private sector organise the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) starting next year.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the matter is currently under study to determine whether the future organisation of RWMF would be a joint venture between Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and the private sector or purely an event organised by the private sector.

“We are looking into it. We will study first. This year, it is still (organised by) STB. We are looking into whether STB will join venture or to let it (RWMF) be 100 per cent run by the private sector and the government withdraws,” he told reporters after chairing the first State Tourism Task Force meeting here yesterday.

Abang Johari, who is also deputy chief minister, is in favour of the private sector organising the event.

“They can drive it and they got innovation. They know best (what the revellers want). We want the private sector to run it but they can make use of this brand.”

He explained that the approach taken by him in letting the private sector organise RWMF was similar to the approach taken by the state government in letting the private sector manage the national parks.

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