KUCHING: Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has welcomed the setting up of anew hub for arts and culture here.
Abdul Karim said the venue, 11Ridgeway, was a space for like-minded people to share their ideas and build an interest in arts, culture and community engagement.
“It’s good to see young entrepreneurs having a passion for arts, culture and the community.
“Our ministry can be supportive and come up with programmes to assist and sustain the utilisation of the space.
“I hope the private sector and NGOs can also come up with good programmes to be held here,” he told reporters after opening 11Ridgeway, a new community and event space, at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee here yesterday.
Founders Fiona Marcus Raja and Desmond Wong aim to engage with communities, empower youth, boost tourism and promote and preserve Sarawak’s culture and arts.
It serves as a community space for hosting events, workshops and programmes as well as a co-working space for individuals and groups.
Meanwhile, Abdul Karim called on hotels and other businesses to bring down their prices in line with the zero-rated goods and services tax.
He said this would help ease the financial burden of the people and attract tourists.
“For example, guests previously had to pay the 6% GST. Hotels should lower their prices accordingly.
“If there is no reduction, the Government’s efforts to help the people will not bear fruit,” Abdul Karim said while welcoming measures to lessen the people’s burden.
“The Pakatan Harapan Federal Government had promised in its GE14 manifesto that it would abolish GST.
“It is now up to businesses to follow through by lowering their prices,” he said.
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