Entertainment Industry Can Contribute To Nation-building
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Movie industry also plays an important role in nation building especially at a time when the Sultanate is carrying out an ambitious campaign to diversify its fossil fuel-based economy in the bid to emerge as a key regional player.

However, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna said a more pragmatic approach should be used to develop the region's creative industry and must be in tandem with national aspiration, religion and local culture.

HRH Princess Hajah Masna said the industry offers many potential job openings for talented individuals who will have to work hard to ensure that the industry is competitive, developed and sustainable.

"It is hoped the development of such industry is balanced with the other mentioned factors. Brilliance besides Allah's blessing should be made a priority," HRH Princess Hajah Masna said.

HRH Hajah Masna congratulated Brunei's Phab Production and Sabah's Jawat Pelangi Sdn Bhd for making the production of the ethnic movie possible.

HRH Hajah Masna, the guest of honour at the charity dinner cum premiere show of the jointventure movie project Dayangku, was also introduced to the movie players, including production workers and technical staff, at the ICC.

Pehin Dato Hj Abd Ghani, the Managing Director of Yayasan Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah, accepted a donation of $5,000 from the organisers for the Pg Muda Mahkota Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Orphan's Fund on behalf of the fund's chairman.

In another address, Sabah Senator Datuk Pg Hjh Mahani bte Tun Pg Hj Ahmad Raffae, the telemovie project financier and adviser, said the movie is the first production in over 50 years that used Brunei Malay dialect.

"We are happy to have been able to produce a second ethnic movie, the first one being a Kadazan movie last year.

"In this Brunei ethnic movie, the production crew filmed interesting places where there are large numbers of Brunei Malay residents in places such as Kota Kinabalu, Weston and Sipitang," she said.

Before the premiere show began, audience was able to see performances from PEMBELA dancers, Sabah artistes such as Den, Awen and Fareez and local artiste Dk Moniri.

The charity dinner cum premiere show was also attended by Malaysian VIPs such as Datuk Hj Karim Hj Bujang the Sabah Assistant Minister for Tourism, Culture and Environment; and Datuk Abu Hassan Abd Rahman, a representative of the Malaysian Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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