SHAH ALAM, Sept 22 — Selangor ought to establish a dedicated ‘arts district’ to bring together local arts, culture, and creativity, serving as a catalyst for the creative industry while also boosting the state’s tourism appeal.
Renowned political cartoonist Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque, better known by his nom de plume Zunar, said Selangor holds great potential to emerge as a leader in the creative economy if it channels artistic activity into a designated area that could become a landmark.
“The state government must identify where Selangor’s ‘arts district’ will be. When the arts are concentrated in one place, they will flourish further. At the same time, it must be given some freedom from rigid regulations so that artists can create more authentically.
“The main goal of the arts is tourism. The arts must be brought out, showcased to the world, not merely confined to a domestic audience,” he told Media Selangor.
Zunar noted that both Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam have the potential to be developed into arts hubs, given their infrastructure and strategic locations for attracting visitors.
Arts and tourism interdependent
He stressed that the growth of the creative economy must move in tandem with the tourism industry, as the two are interdependent.
“In Sarawak, there is the internationally recognised Borneo Cultural Festival. In Berlin, murals on the remnants of the wall are a major tourist attraction.
"Similarly, Penang has turned street art into a tourism product. This is what Selangor can emulate, as art industries around the world are driven forward by tourists,” Zunar said.
Dedicated budget, not leftovers
As such, he urged the state government to allocate a specific budget for arts development so that practitioners no longer have to rely on leftover funds.
“If the government is serious, the private sector will also provide support. The arts must come as a dedicated project with its own budget, not as an afterthought,” Zunar said.
During the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat on August 6, Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari emphasised the need for a clear, comprehensive, and systematic creative economy policy to elevate the industry to a global level.
As an initial step, Selangor will be organising the Selangor Creative Economy Expo on tomorrow and on Wednesday (September 24) at the MBSA Convention Centre in Shah Alam.
It will feature diverse segments of the creative industry, ranging from internationally recognised animation studios to local culinary talents, and will serve as a platform to identify needs like training, grants, and incentives.
