Local music has own strength, says Pairin
Monday, 20 March 2006 (Source: Daily Express)

PENAMPANG: Local songs can capture the hearts of the international community provided the music industry players are ready to expose them with the State's unique traditional music as foundation.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the local community has its own strength in expanding the art of music.

"No matter how high is our achievement in this art, one thing we should not neglect is that it must stand on the foundation of our community's traditional heritage," he said.

Pairin, who is also Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) President, said this when launching the Sugandoi Workshop and Introduction of the Koisaan Orchestra at Hongkod Koisaan, here, Sunday.

The workshop, attended by some 200 participants from all over the State, saw the tabling of three working papers on the development of Kadazandusun songs, copyrights in Malaysia and Sugandoi judging.

They were presented by Andrew Poninting, Manisegaran Amasi and Rayner Ajumal, respectively.

During the workshop, the participants were also introduced to a new musical group dubbed Koisaan Orchestra with 45 Kadazandusun music graduates as members.

On the newly formed orchestra, Pairin described it as timely and in accordance to one of the objectives of KDCA, which itself showed the level of achievement of the local music industry.

Earlier, Sugandoi Kaamatan 2006 organising chairman, Harry Beatty, said the workshop, among others, was to introduce a new judging scheme where in years to come only certified persons would be recommended to judge the Harvest Festival singing competition.