Arts community asks PH to reinstate Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the arts community are calling on the new Pakatan Harapan government to reinstate the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry.

In an online statement, the community is seeking arts and cultural practitioners’ endorsement for their call.

“This is not a public petition. We are seeking members’ endorsement. We are thankful for the support,” read the statement, which was shared at a breaking of fast event hosted by the Malaysia Design Archive on Friday.

In a bid to restore arts, culture and heritage in Malaysia, the arts community said this could be done by guaranteeing a ministerial portfolio dedicated to these sectors in the new cabinet.

The statement said having a dedicated ministry would ensure that arts, culture and heritage supported Malaysia’s transformation.

It said the arts community was looking forward to engaging the appointed minister, should the ministry be reinstated.

“We believe that creative expressions, cultural traditions and our heritage can help foster a sense of shared identity and social cohesion.”

Citing PH’s manifesto, in which the creative arts industry was identified as an engine of growth, particularly for youth, the arts community said, “Culture and heritage can contribute to the nation’s economic growth.

“PH has placed great significance in restoring our ability to exercise freedom of expression as part of its mandate, recognising this to be an important factor in a healthy and functioning democratic nation.”

The statement noted how arts as well as culture-makers, workers and educators had been the critical voice of honesty, hope and change in the nation’s history.

“Malaysia needs its arts and culture communities now more than ever,” it said, adding that the abuse of power, neglect and cynical use of instruments of state to foster distrust among the people needed to be redressed.

“Cultural diversity flourishing within a framework of democracy and mutual respect between peoples and cultures— that values indigenous knowledge and practices — is essential for peace, wellbeing and development at the national and international levels.”

Previously, culture was a portfolio under the Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry.

However, in 1987, it was put together with tourism, resulting in the birth of the Tourism and Culture Ministry.

The ministry was renamed the Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry in 1992.

The Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry was formed in 2004.

Heritage was later dropped from the portfolio and arts followed suit a couple years later. The current ministry handling culture is the Tourism and Culture Ministry.

We believe that creative expressions, cultural traditions and our heritage can help foster a sense of shared identity and social cohesion.