Something smells here....

While reading this achievement of another Malaysian, Work of wood carver gets international recognition, I am slightly distured to note that he has to seek approval from the cabinet! Quote, "“I have handed over the design to Dr Rais and he will present it to the Cabinet for approval,”.

If he has indeed earn the commission by merit from the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in Britain director, Dr Farhan Ahmad Nizami whom he met in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago, why the need for the approval? Is it because the work is a government contribution ( aka bribe) to the centre?

I still remember sitting through a boring lecture on Islam by the previous Prime Minister of Malaysia at the centre in 1995 or 96! I was advised that Malaysia contributed loads to the centre.

Another thing to note, the name of the Oxford Centre, , Dr Farhan Ahmad Nizami sounds Malaysian! Is he?

The referred article:-
The Star Online > Nation

Wednesday April 20, 2005
Work of wood carver gets international recognition
BY K. SUTHAKAR

JERTEH: The work of wood carver Norhaiza Noordin has received international recognition with a commission coming from the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in Britain.

An associate institution of the Oxford University, the centre has asked the 42-year-old to design the wooden interior decoration for its new complex on the university campus.

“This is an honour for wood carvers in Besut and Malaysia,” he said after a visit by Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim to his Seni Ukir Bakavali production centre in Kampung Raja near here yesterday.

Established in 1985 to encourage the study of Islam and the Islamic world, the Oxford Centre provides a meeting point for the Western and Islamic worlds of learning.


BIRD-SHAPED CARVING:Norhaiza explaining to Rais the Petala Indera bird design on the congkak carved from angsana wood.
It is currently operating from a rented building outside the university.

Norhaiza, who has been carving wood for 19 years, said he met Oxford Centre director Dr Farhan Ahmad Nizami in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago and they agreed to use merbau wood for the project.

The Malaysian Government had also asked him to design the wooden interior decoration of an auditorium it was planning to build in the centre complex, he added.

“I have handed over the design to Dr Rais and he will present it to the Cabinet for approval,” he said.

The minister earlier visited Balai Seni Mustafa Wansu in Kampung Raja, which is owned by Wan Su Othman, 105, believed to be the oldest wood carver in the country.

Speaking to newsmen, Dr Rais said he would propose to the Cabinet that grants be given direct to wood carvers in Terengganu and Kelantan instead of being channelled through government bodies.

He noted there were only seven wood carvers in the two states now compared with 28 in 1974.

“The future of the industry will become bleak if no special help is given to them,” he added.


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