SHAH ALAM, Sept 25 — Section 13 here has been identified as one of the strategic locations to be developed into an arts hub or centre for cultural and artistic activities in Selangor.
Publishing company Rabak-Lit's head Izzat Amir said the state has many outstanding local talents, and that this opportunity should be maximised.
“The idea of opening this creative hub came from my own experience. Back in the early 2000s, I was involved with Pasar Frinjan, and I also organised music group performances.
“In Shah Alam, there are great bands like Seven Collar T-Shirt, and we also have writers who come from Shah Alam. Some are not Shah Alam-born, but they emerged from creative programmes in Shah Alam,” he told Media Selangor.
Izzat was speaking at the Selangor Creative Economy Expo 2025 (SCEE25) in the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) Convention Centre yesterday.
He added that an arts hub in Selangor must consider providing space for creativity alongside the local community without being seen as overly bound by government policies.
The state also has the chance to create its own unique identity and need not follow the same approach as Ipoh, Perak, or Penang, which repurpose old buildings as arts centres.
“In Selangor, we do not have many old buildings. It does not mean we must follow Ipoh or Penang’s methods. We do not need to be tied to nostalgia, and this is not a limitation at all,” Izzat said.
He also admitted at once having planned to revive a creative hub at a location in Section 13, but faced bureaucratic red tape, especially from the local authorities. Such a problem has also forced many arts industry players to cease their activities and close down.
“These policies make things difficult for us. Even to get loan funding, they impose unreasonable rules.
"They require returns in the thousands. If I were rich, I would not need to take a loan in the first place – it just does not make sense,” Izzat said.
