Minister sheds light on pharaoh exhibition
TOURISM, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi says he signed the letter to bring in the Egyptian pharaoh artefacts for an exhibition but was not informed of its approval.
“I was the one who signed the letter to bring the pharaoh to Malaysia.
“The problem is when it was approved, I was not informed by the director-general.
“So when I was not informed that it was already approved, I answered that I was in the dark over the issue,” he said during the Budget 2020 winding-up speech for his ministry.
Mohamaddin said this after Awang Hashim (PAS-Pendang) sought an explanation on the ministry’s plan to exhibit the tomb and artefacts of Ramses II and Tutankhamun, popularly known as King Tut, next October as part of Visit Malaysia Year.
Last week, Mohamaddin said he was in the dark about the plans and did not know where his deputy got the approval from.
“I don’t know where the funds will come from for such an exhibition,” he said in Kuching when asked on Deputy Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik’s statement that the government was working to finalise the exhibition with the Egypt government and would raise funds to make it happen.
Mohamaddin explained that there was a slight miscommunication with the director-general of the Department of Museum over the approval of the exhibition.
“I summoned the director-general to ask him: if he could find me to ask for my signature, why can’t he inform me when it is approved.
“He apologised and it is just a small matter, it is a miscommunication,” he added.
Mohamaddin said the reason for organising the exhibition was to highlight the history of its civilisation, history of the prophets, high moral values and capabilities of the people.