SHAH ALAM, Sept 26 – Selangor must strengthen creative education and develop a structured roadmap if it aims to establish itself as a creative economy hub, says former George Town Festival (GTF) director Joe Sidek.
He stated that the state’s creative economy cannot rely solely on events but must focus on nurturing talent through institutions and consistent planning.
“Selangor should plot out which institutions already have faculties and expand them because this is the foundation of your workforce. Education is the blueprint,” he told Media Selangor when contacted.
Joe was commenting on Selangor’s efforts to build its creative economy, beginning with the Selangor Creative Economy Expo 2025 (SCEE25), which was recently held on September 23 and 24.
The event brought together industry players to discuss plans to integrate culture, heritage, and creativity into economic growth, positioning Selangor as Malaysia’s leading creative hub.
Joe also stated that countries such as Singapore and South Korea have succeeded by implementing long-term strategies rather than relying on one-off celebrations.
“(If) you don’t build on it, then you waste it. A good example is Citrawarna… millions were spent, but it remained just an event. After 20 years, it should have grown into an industry,” he said.
At the expo, state executive councillor for youth, sports and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi said Selangor’s arts and culture sector has the potential to contribute RM20 billion to the nation’s economic growth over the next 10 years through the Selangor Creative Economy Strategic Action Plan. Currently, Selangor contributes RM2 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) from the creative economy, based on a recent Statistics Department report.
Discussions at the two-day event included the revival of Pekan Frinjan, the development of creative hubs beyond Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya, and collaborations with industry players in heritage-rich towns. Key themes centred on inclusivity, sustainability, and strategies to tap into the region’s growing creative industries.
The state also signed several memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with local and international partners to expand the creative ecosystem.
Meanwhile, Joe welcomed the state government’s initiative but stressed the importance of the local councils in supporting the effort.
“The councils are the hosts. They must be the support system, the instigator, the incubator. The government should be the starting point, then bring in partners,” he said.
He said Selangor should also look abroad to learn from Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Joe, who founded GTF in Penang and helmed it from 2010 to 2018, is credited with growing it into one of Southeast Asia’s most prominent arts and culture festivals.
He further stated that creative industries must be treated as monetisable sectors, spanning film, design, fashion, and artisanal products, rather than activities dependent solely on government funding.
“My idea of a creative industry is simple. Will people pay for your creativity? Whether it’s a film, a painting, or a product, if it creates value and revenue, then it’s an industry,” he said.
Joe also cautioned against equating tourism with culture, stressing that Selangor’s unique history and stories are its strongest assets.
“Nobody can copy your history. That’s your unique selling point. Instead of replicating others, build on what’s exclusively yours,” he added.
