Pharaohs exhibition? Bakhtiar says plans afoot, Mohamaddin says not aware

KUCHING: Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi has denied Cabinet approval on bringing in an exhibition of the tombs and artefacts of Egyptian pharaohs Ramses II and Tutankhamun (King Tut) in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2020 (VMY2020).

He said any initiatives to bring in the exhibition would require detailed discussions between the governments of Malaysia and Egypt, strsesing the matter was never brought up in the Cabinet meeting.

“This has never been discussed in the Cabinet meeting or within our ministry. The deputy minister (Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik) should not have done such a publicity.

“I don’t know where the deputy minister obtained the approval to speak on this matter and I’m not sure where the fund would be obtained… would it be public funding? This was never discussed with me, perhaps it is his own opinion,” Mohamaddin said at a press conference, here, today.

He said efforts to bring in such an exhibition was not easy because it requires the approval of the Egyptian government and also requires insurance which could cost millions.

Yesterday, Muhammad Bakhtiar said the ministry was planning to organise an exhibition of Ramses II and King Tut’s tombs and artefacts next year.

He had said that such touring exhibitions would normally bring in a high number of visitors, in line with VMY2020’s plan to attract more tourists here.

Meanwhile, when asked if he would be agreeable to bringing in the exhibition, Mohamaddin said this was not a question of whether he agreed or otherwise.

“How am I to agree if it was not brought to my attention. If I were to reject it, what am I rejecting?” he asked.