KUALA LUMPUR: The creation of a "Dunia Melayu" or Malay World in the nation's capital of Kuala Lumpur will help enrich the knowledge and awareness of Malay culture in Malaysia.
Lembaga Peradaban Melayu (Adab) chief Datuk Dr Ghazali Mohd Yusof, in supporting of the proposal by Dewan Negara President Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim to designate a Malay World in the federal capital, said he hoped it would not only be a location to display Malay heritage and culture, but would also continue to be a place that is "full of life" with the spirit of 'Peradaban Bangsa Rumpun Melayu' (civilisation of the Malays).
"We are very proud of Rais' call for the Kuala Lumpur City Hall to establish a Malay World in Kuala Lumpur, which he said would highlight Malay culture and heritage, as there is an absence of any cohesive identity of the Malay community in the capital.
"As in his description of his proposal, the Malay World is a settlement of cultural art, music, carpentry, cuisine and high cultural value," he said in a statement today.
Ghazali said such a cultural settlement in the heart of the city would also attract foreigners whether they were here as visitors, for business, or on official duties to better understand the core of the country.
"In support of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, the development of Kuala Lumpur needs to target not only human development in terms of material needs, happiness, poverty eradication and gender equality, but also the preservation and sustainability of native culture as wealth in humanity," he added.
On Friday, Rais suggested for a Malay World development in the city as there was no one specific area that displayed the heritage, culture and art of the Malays for visitors.