No plan to abolish Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra
The Sun (30/6/08): The government has no plan to abolish or reduce the expenditure cost of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) although the Opposition MPs claimed it does not benefit the masses, especially the poor.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department K. Devamany said the MPO was in line with the government’s holistic development approach and part of Petronas' social corporate responsibility (CSR).
"As a country with multi-racial community and expatriates, this facility provides an alternative to those interested in live performances of international-level symphony orchestra. Apart from raising the image of the country, the fine arts of classical music can instil discipline among society," he told Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) in Parliament today.
Mahfuz said during this time of crisis, such programmes did not benefit the people in general but Devamany said it has helped for example, in creating 1,000 local musicians who had taken part in MPO's instrumental programme.
Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) then compared with a similar orchestra in Venezuela which, since 1975, had trained more than 600 youths from poor families and set up 125 youth orchestras, 57 children orchestras and 30 adult orchestras, whereby 90% of them were from the poor.
"If it is about CSR, why is Petronas' profit not also enjoyed by the majority of poor children but only circled among the elites?" he asked.
However, Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said Devamany did not have to answer as it was already time for debate.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department K. Devamany said the MPO was in line with the government’s holistic development approach and part of Petronas' social corporate responsibility (CSR).
"As a country with multi-racial community and expatriates, this facility provides an alternative to those interested in live performances of international-level symphony orchestra. Apart from raising the image of the country, the fine arts of classical music can instil discipline among society," he told Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) in Parliament today.
Mahfuz said during this time of crisis, such programmes did not benefit the people in general but Devamany said it has helped for example, in creating 1,000 local musicians who had taken part in MPO's instrumental programme.
Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) then compared with a similar orchestra in Venezuela which, since 1975, had trained more than 600 youths from poor families and set up 125 youth orchestras, 57 children orchestras and 30 adult orchestras, whereby 90% of them were from the poor.
"If it is about CSR, why is Petronas' profit not also enjoyed by the majority of poor children but only circled among the elites?" he asked.
However, Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said Devamany did not have to answer as it was already time for debate.
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