The Malaysian government will hold an arts festival here throughout July this year in a bid to turn the capital city of the country into a center of culture and make a new attraction for foreign tourists.

Malaysian Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Rais Yatim said on Monday that the festival will be held each year, starting this year, in an effort to turn the federal capital into a center of culture, arts and heritage.

Cultural performances will be staged by various ethnic groups during the month around the city as part of the activities to be held during the festival entitled "The KL Fest 2006", he told reporters here.

Local media said that the festival is jointly organized by the Malaysian Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry, the Tourism Ministry, the Information Ministry, and Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

Malaysians need to appreciate their own arts, culture and heritage in their own city, Rais added.

Source: Xinhua